Monday, July 31, 2006
Weekend Wrap - England
Yanks Abroad has a good wrap-up of EPL pre-season action here. The main highlight was a goal by Claudio Reyna (by the way, how different would the World Cup have been if he had equalized against the Czechs?)
In the meanwhile, now-former U.S. International Brian McBride is the subject of some transfer rumors but Fulham insist he's going nowhere.
Yanks Abroad also has a player Q&A with Tim Howard.
In the meanwhile, now-former U.S. International Brian McBride is the subject of some transfer rumors but Fulham insist he's going nowhere.
Yanks Abroad also has a player Q&A with Tim Howard.
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Player Profiles
ESPN's Soccernet's U.S. coverage appears to have been reenergized by the World Cup and over the last week, it has delivered three interesting player features.
Jimmy Conrad's always enteraining diary is here. I particularly like the part where he describes being told he was headed into the game.
Here's a story on Clint Dempsey's possible European future. Most interesting is the rumor that West Ham (home of Jonathan Spector) was interested in signing him. I hadn't seen that elsewhere.
Finally, here's a Freddy Adupdate. He's still going back and forth on Ghana v. U.S., supposedly. Despite Ghana's fine performance this year, there's no guarantee that they're going to regularly qualify for the World Cup. This was kind of an odd World Cup year for Africa, and Egypt, Cameroon, and Nigeria (all of whom failed to qualify) are sure to up the ante for the next Cup on their home continent. With South Africa automatically qualifying and Ivory Coast a superior team, Ghana may be left in the cold. (Translation: go with the U.S., Freddy.)
Jimmy Conrad's always enteraining diary is here. I particularly like the part where he describes being told he was headed into the game.
Here's a story on Clint Dempsey's possible European future. Most interesting is the rumor that West Ham (home of Jonathan Spector) was interested in signing him. I hadn't seen that elsewhere.
Finally, here's a Freddy Adupdate. He's still going back and forth on Ghana v. U.S., supposedly. Despite Ghana's fine performance this year, there's no guarantee that they're going to regularly qualify for the World Cup. This was kind of an odd World Cup year for Africa, and Egypt, Cameroon, and Nigeria (all of whom failed to qualify) are sure to up the ante for the next Cup on their home continent. With South Africa automatically qualifying and Ivory Coast a superior team, Ghana may be left in the cold. (Translation: go with the U.S., Freddy.)
Hamburg 1 - Hertha Berlin 0
This is more Yanks Abroad's province than mine, but I did notice on soccertv.com that the quarterfinals of the 6-team German League Cup (featuring the top league finishers from last year) was on GolTV today. I couldn't figure out if US 2010 hopeful Benny Feilhaber was on the first team or not, but I decided to watch the game anyway. Feilhaber was not on the squad, but it was pretty interesting to watch a German game with Spanish commentators.
Despite a sluggish first 50 minutes, Hamburg's Belgian international defender Vincent Kompany scored after Dutch international Rafael van der Vaart's blazing 35 meter free kick came off the post. Swiss international Raphael Wicky manned Feilhaber's hoped-for defensive midfield position. Looking over the squad, it's clear that Feilhaber has a lot of players to leapfrog before he can assume a first-team place.
Despite a sluggish first 50 minutes, Hamburg's Belgian international defender Vincent Kompany scored after Dutch international Rafael van der Vaart's blazing 35 meter free kick came off the post. Swiss international Raphael Wicky manned Feilhaber's hoped-for defensive midfield position. Looking over the squad, it's clear that Feilhaber has a lot of players to leapfrog before he can assume a first-team place.
More on the MLS All-Stars
The first 11 All-Stars were chosen by a combination of the votes of fans, pros, coaches, and the media. They are:
FWD: Ante Razov (Chivas USA), Jaime Moreno (D.C.)
MID: Christian Gomez (D.C.), Landon Donovan (L.A.), Dwayne DeRosario (Houston), Clint Dempsey (New England), and Shalrie Joseph (New England)
DEF: Eddie Pope (Salt Lake), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City), and Chris Albright (L.A.)
*US 2010 hopefuls in bold.
Because of a doubleheader on August 6 (the day after the MLS v. Chelsea match-up) featuring New England and Chivas USA, Ante Razov, Clint Dempsey, and Shalrie Joseph will not play in the All-Star game. This is obviously a bummer for those hoping to see more of Dempsey vs. top flight competition after his strong performance in the World Cup.
The subs are:
Joe Cannon (GK-Colorado), Bobby Boswell (DEF-D.C.), Josh Gros (DEF-D.C.), Freddy Adu (MID-D.C.), Pablo Mastroeni (MID-Colorado), Ronnie O'Brien (MID-Dallas), Richard Mulrooney (MID-Dallas), Brian Ching (FWD-Houston), Nate Jaqua (FWD-Chicago), and Alecko Eskandarian (FWD-D.C.).
Obviously, the game should be very interesting as Chelsea runs out most of its top guys against several of our 2010 hopefuls. Not to dis MLS, but it would be nice to see Ching and Conrad, who aren't getting any younger, get some looks from the European powers. They've each been dominating MLS for about five years now.
The game is August 5 at 6:30 p.m. in Bridgeview, Illinois at the Chicago Fire's stadium. You can see it on ESPN.
FWD: Ante Razov (Chivas USA), Jaime Moreno (D.C.)
MID: Christian Gomez (D.C.), Landon Donovan (L.A.), Dwayne DeRosario (Houston), Clint Dempsey (New England), and Shalrie Joseph (New England)
DEF: Eddie Pope (Salt Lake), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City), and Chris Albright (L.A.)
*US 2010 hopefuls in bold.
Because of a doubleheader on August 6 (the day after the MLS v. Chelsea match-up) featuring New England and Chivas USA, Ante Razov, Clint Dempsey, and Shalrie Joseph will not play in the All-Star game. This is obviously a bummer for those hoping to see more of Dempsey vs. top flight competition after his strong performance in the World Cup.
The subs are:
Joe Cannon (GK-Colorado), Bobby Boswell (DEF-D.C.), Josh Gros (DEF-D.C.), Freddy Adu (MID-D.C.), Pablo Mastroeni (MID-Colorado), Ronnie O'Brien (MID-Dallas), Richard Mulrooney (MID-Dallas), Brian Ching (FWD-Houston), Nate Jaqua (FWD-Chicago), and Alecko Eskandarian (FWD-D.C.).
Obviously, the game should be very interesting as Chelsea runs out most of its top guys against several of our 2010 hopefuls. Not to dis MLS, but it would be nice to see Ching and Conrad, who aren't getting any younger, get some looks from the European powers. They've each been dominating MLS for about five years now.
The game is August 5 at 6:30 p.m. in Bridgeview, Illinois at the Chicago Fire's stadium. You can see it on ESPN.
News Wrap
Getting the infrastructure (such as it is) of this blog together has been more challenging than expected and we've missed some news over the past couple weeks. Here are the highlights:
MLS All-Star Team named - will play Chelsea in Chicago's new stadium on August 5.
Freddy Adu in minor car accident after DC United game - emerges unhurt.
Santino Quaranta takes personal leave from DC United - return unclear.
Oguchi Onweyu drops off EPL radar - will begin season in Belgium.
Tim Howard's Everton draws Columbus 1-1 - is he the first choice #1?
Landon Donovan injured in training - may miss All-Star game
MLS All-Star Team named - will play Chelsea in Chicago's new stadium on August 5.
Freddy Adu in minor car accident after DC United game - emerges unhurt.
Santino Quaranta takes personal leave from DC United - return unclear.
Oguchi Onweyu drops off EPL radar - will begin season in Belgium.
Tim Howard's Everton draws Columbus 1-1 - is he the first choice #1?
Landon Donovan injured in training - may miss All-Star game
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
The Goalkeepers
Aside from Tim Howard, does our goalkeeping pool seem weaker than in recent years?
Adin Brown (Aalesund (Norway))
Brad Guzan (Chivas USA)
Kasey Keller (Borussia Moenchengladbach)
Marcus Hahneman (Reading)
Quentin Westberg (Troyes (France) )
Tim Howard (Everton)
Adin Brown (Aalesund (Norway))
Brad Guzan (Chivas USA)
Kasey Keller (Borussia Moenchengladbach)
Marcus Hahneman (Reading)
Quentin Westberg (Troyes (France) )
Tim Howard (Everton)
Friday, July 21, 2006
The Forwards
Click for News:
Alecko Eskandarian (D.C. United)
Brian Ching (Houston)
Chad Barrett (Chicago)
Chris Rolfe (Chicago)
Conor Casey (Mainz 05)
Eddie Johnson (Kansas City)
Josmer Altidore (Red Bulls)
Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas)
Lee Nguyen (PSV Eindhoven)
Nate Jaqua (Chicago)
Preston Zimmerman (Hamburg)
Taylor Twellman (New England)
David Arvizu (Red Bulls)
Santino Quaranta (DC United)
Alecko Eskandarian (D.C. United)
Brian Ching (Houston)
Chad Barrett (Chicago)
Chris Rolfe (Chicago)
Conor Casey (Mainz 05)
Eddie Johnson (Kansas City)
Josmer Altidore (Red Bulls)
Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas)
Lee Nguyen (PSV Eindhoven)
Nate Jaqua (Chicago)
Preston Zimmerman (Hamburg)
Taylor Twellman (New England)
David Arvizu (Red Bulls)
Santino Quaranta (DC United)
Monday, July 17, 2006
The Midfielders
Click for Latest News
Benny Feilhaber (Hamburg)
Bobby Convey (Reading)
Clint Dempsey (New England)
DaMarcus Beasley (PSV Eindhoven)
Freddy Adu (D.C. United )
Justin Mapp (Chicago Fire)
Landon Donovan (Los Angeles)
Michael Bradley (Heerenveen (Netherlands))
Pat Noonan (New England)
Ricardo Clark (Houston)
Brian Carroll (D.C. United)
Eddie Gaven (Columbus)
Benny Feilhaber (Hamburg)
Bobby Convey (Reading)
Clint Dempsey (New England)
DaMarcus Beasley (PSV Eindhoven)
Freddy Adu (D.C. United )
Justin Mapp (Chicago Fire)
Landon Donovan (Los Angeles)
Michael Bradley (Heerenveen (Netherlands))
Pat Noonan (New England)
Ricardo Clark (Houston)
Brian Carroll (D.C. United)
Eddie Gaven (Columbus)
The Defenders
Click on the Name for Latest News
Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham)
Chad Marshall (Columbus)
Cory Gibbs (Charlton Athletic)
Frankie Simek (Sheffield Wednesday)
Heath Pearce (FC Nordsjaelland (Denmark))
Jay DeMerit (Watford)
Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City)
Jonathan Spector (West Ham)
Marvell Wynne (Red Bulls)
Oguchi Onyewu (Standard Liege)
Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96)
Todd Dunivant (Red Bulls)
Ugo Ihemelu (Los Angeles)
Zak Whitbread (Millwall)
Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham)
Chad Marshall (Columbus)
Cory Gibbs (Charlton Athletic)
Frankie Simek (Sheffield Wednesday)
Heath Pearce (FC Nordsjaelland (Denmark))
Jay DeMerit (Watford)
Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City)
Jonathan Spector (West Ham)
Marvell Wynne (Red Bulls)
Oguchi Onyewu (Standard Liege)
Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96)
Todd Dunivant (Red Bulls)
Ugo Ihemelu (Los Angeles)
Zak Whitbread (Millwall)
The Foundation
Here are the sources I used to begin my catalog of U.S. National Team hopefuls in 2010.
Chattanooga Free Press
Ives Galarcep in North Jersey
Yanks Abroad
NY Times
A note on Kasey Keller - I may give up this blog if it appears that he's going to be starting in goal for WC 2010. Enough is enough.
Chattanooga Free Press
Ives Galarcep in North Jersey
Yanks Abroad
NY Times
A note on Kasey Keller - I may give up this blog if it appears that he's going to be starting in goal for WC 2010. Enough is enough.
Introduction
Did you immediately start Googling the World Cup 2010 qualifying schedule when the U.S. crashed out to Ghana? If so, this blog is for you.
From now until 2010, I intend to chart the progress of the prospective U.S. men's national team members. I am learning about these guys as I go along, relying on sources as diverse as the N.Y. Times, the Chattanooga Free Press, the North Jersey Record, and Yanks-Abroad.com to identify potential players. From there, I intend to do my own research on club web sites as well as soccer news web sites (domestic and international) to come up with occasional progress reports on each player, until we can safely eliminate them from contention for the team.
We'll see how it goes. This is perhaps my self-medication for the six hour void the end of the World Cup has left in my day. It is also an exercise in forcing myself to keep tabs on MLS games and keep track of Premiership football (as well as the Dutch First Division, the French First Division, the Norwegian First and Second Divisions, and the English Third Division (known as League One)).
Any suggestions are appreciated, as are comments. If I say something stupid, let me know.
Thanks.
From now until 2010, I intend to chart the progress of the prospective U.S. men's national team members. I am learning about these guys as I go along, relying on sources as diverse as the N.Y. Times, the Chattanooga Free Press, the North Jersey Record, and Yanks-Abroad.com to identify potential players. From there, I intend to do my own research on club web sites as well as soccer news web sites (domestic and international) to come up with occasional progress reports on each player, until we can safely eliminate them from contention for the team.
We'll see how it goes. This is perhaps my self-medication for the six hour void the end of the World Cup has left in my day. It is also an exercise in forcing myself to keep tabs on MLS games and keep track of Premiership football (as well as the Dutch First Division, the French First Division, the Norwegian First and Second Divisions, and the English Third Division (known as League One)).
Any suggestions are appreciated, as are comments. If I say something stupid, let me know.
Thanks.
