Many fans of the United States men’s national team already read the news. Players are unhappy, and the situation in the American locker room likely reached its boiling point.
An article by Sporting News writer Brian Strauss outlined the major rifts between USMNT manager Jurgen Klinsmann, several players and other influential members of the side.
Wowzers, what a lovely hat-trick from the little Bradley Cooper look-a-like. Rarely given the option to play up-top, the lad seems to score a decent amount of goals when he does. At 28, he’s no spring chicken but he could certainly still impact the US National Team for the better. He’s creative, he’s extremely athletic, he’s fit and he’s versatile. Raise you hand if you think he’d make a fantastic spark plug from the bench for Jurgen and Co.
The desire of MLS big-whigs to place another franchise in the New York City mega-market has been an open secret. They’ve been both coy and open about the idea, playing the political middle-ground. On one hand, they desperately want the Cosmos brand back in the world’s biggest city and on the other, they don’t want to alienate the likes of Orland, Miami, and Atlanta who are serious contenders for expansion teams. In comments made yesterday during his annual state of the league address, the commissioner, Don Garber, finally offered a concrete time-table for the Cosmos to make progress on a new stadium and future integration into the MLS. About the possibility of a deal being struck to build a stadium in Queens, Garber was frank:
“If we’re not successful we’ll throw our hands up, and it’ll be far sooner than three years we throw our hands up… then we’d take a step back and see if there’s another market. Three years is too long. I don’t want to put a year limit on it. But if it’s not making progress, the time will come. There’s a lot of activity in other markets.”
He did note that it was worth the tough battle and challenge because, well, it’s New York. It doesn’t hurt that it’s also the most prestigious club brand in North American soccer history that the MLS wants to rejuvenate. So is there any way the league would actually be prepared to move on if this project needs four or even five years to take off? The rumors of a new stadium in Orlando are attractive, but not as attractive as the names the Cosmos have brought into the front office: Pele, Eric Cantona, Shep Messing, Cobi Jones and Carlos Alberto.
Perhaps Garber is a little annoyed, evident by the comments he made about the Cosmos joining the NASL:
“They had a choice to make, vie for an MLS New York City team or go into the second division,” he said about the Cosmos. “They decided to go into the second division.”
It’s hard to know what has been said or done behind closed doors. What we do know is that the city of New York has so far been unwilling to provide funding for a new stadium, leaving the league to foot the bill almost entirely. Keeping that in mind, this seems like more smoke and mirrors from Garber rather than an actual ultimatum. Even so, it could be a kick in the Cosmos backside that may result in them being more aggressive about making a Belmont Park (video above) or Corona Park ground a reality.
Do you believe Garber’s ultimatum? Do you think he’s blowing smoke? Have your say below.
On Saturday the New York Red Bulls once again failed to get a victory at Gillette Stadium against the New England Revolution.
When Darius Barnes headed in a cross past RBNY goalkeeper Bill Gaudette and into the back of the net well after the four minutes of injury-time had already been eclipsed it tied the score at one and increased the Red Bulls franchise winless streak in Foxboro. The last time the franchise won at Gillette Stadium, in either the regular season or the playoffs, was June 29, 2002.
What was going on around that time?
Philadelphia had a pretty strong soccer fan base before it was granted an MLS team, namely with the Sons of Ben. Now the Philadelphia Union is in its third season in the league and Big Philly Fan wanted to show his appreciation.
In a video parody of The Wanted’s “Glad You Came” Big Philly Fan is incredibly “Glad Union Came”. H e sings, he dances, he made up lyrics and he knows all of the guys on the Union’s roster.
He may not be Fred Astaire but his praise of Freddy Adu and the rest of the team is positive for MLS and fan relations. At least he cares and is proud to show it. Good for him.
We’ve all wondered what it would be like to hang out and have a drink at a bar with our favorite players. We always envision our heroes to be cool dudes that want to spend time with us.
Well some Vancouver Whitecaps fans got just that when they ran into captain Jay DeMerit at a pub in Portland after a 2-1 loss to the rival Timbers.
A USA Today article says that a group of 25 fans, called the Handbags, were at a pub drinking away their sorrows after the game when DeMerit walked in. Even though DeMerit and his team had just lost, he stayed with the fans, chatted with them and sang some songs too.
Not only did he hang out with them, but he even footed the tab.
Here’s a belly laugher for ya. In the closing moments of Wednesday night’s club friendly between Stoke City and Sporting KC at Livestrong Park, the Potters saw a coveted preseason victory disappear with a fortuitous header by KC defender Kyle Miller in extra time. A most memorable first career goal if I’ve ever seen one. Better take what you can get, hoss.
It was certainly a more exciting goal than the match’s first, an 81st minute penalty kick by Michael Tonge. Hey, when you host Stoke City for a friendly, you best expect a snoozefest.
H/T – Deadspin
After the New York Red Bulls signed Thierry Henry in 2010, there always seemed to be an inkling that more Frenchmen would be linked to join the team.
Rumors swirled that someone like Robert Pires or Nicolas Anelka would join good friend Henry in New Jersey, but nothing ever came of those grumblings. Neither player never even came to MLS.
But the Red Bulls search for a second Frenchman continued and it brought them to Sebastien Le Toux, a 2010 member of the MLS Best XI. Le Toux, formerly of the rival Philadelphia Union, was acquired from the Vancouver Whitecaps for Dane Richards and allocation money.
Le Toux has played two games for the Red Bulls and the trade seems to have worked out. Le Toux scored the team’s lone goal Sunday in a 1-1 draw with the Seattle Sounders and Wednesday he assisted on the team’s lone goal to none other than Henry in the 1-0 win over the Chicago Fire.
“Sebastien had a great game. Scoring a goal in his first game for us was great,” Henry told the media after Sunday’s game.
Le Toux, 28, has fond memories of watching Henry and now gets to play alongside his compatriot.
“I was young and I used to watch (Henry) in World Cup ’98, him scoring goals and being the superstar he is. It’s just great and some of my friends were jealous, it’s funny. He’s a great guy too and just a great player. I’m just lucky and I’m just going to enjoy all the moments I can have over here with him,” he said after Sunday’s game.
Henry, Le Toux and American Kenny Cooper are all natural forwards but Henry is capable of playing as a withdrawn forward in the midfield and Le Toux can slide to the wing, where he scored his goal from. It may take some time to use all three to their best capabilities on the field at the same time, but the Frenchmen seem to be working well together.
Le Toux’s assist to helped Henry score his first goal since April 28.
With Henry and Le Toux coming together on the pitch, it’s possible they could form a friendship off it, taking off to New York City and Soho to eat crepes, drink fine wine or catch a French flick at the Films on the Green Festival.
If they keep scoring goals for the Red Bulls, they’ll get as much love in New York as Henry does in France.
Seattle sports fans are heartbroken all over again as their once beloved Seattle Supersonics, now the Oklahoma City Thunder, have reached the NBA Finals.
The media has been all over it from headlines about the “Sonics” achievement and polls whether Seattle basketball fans will be rooting for this team, once their own, in the chase for the championship.
While the Thunder has moved on from Seattle, leaving history and success with the city in their rearview mirror, Seattle fans shouldn’t forget that they still have a championship-caliber team right to still call their own: the Seattle Sounders.
Jebus, this is beautiful. And somebody in Houston is a very, VERY skilled toy helicopter operator. Either that or a master mini-hang glider.
The ‘Most Orange Structure in Texas’ opens in just 4 days. That’s only 15 months after they first broke ground on this creamiscle. Remarkable.
22,000 seats. Urban setting. Are you paying attention Mr. Kraft?