Crew Teammates closer to reaching Beijing Olympics
Posted on February 29, 2008 - Filed Under Columbus Crew | 2 Comments
Eddie Gaven and Robbie Rogers have been called to the final Olympic Qualifying Camp.
Columbus Crew midfielders Robbie Rogers and Eddie Gaven have recently been called up to the U.S. Under 23 National Team by coach Peter Nowak. The call up is for participation in the training camp for 2008 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying. The camp will be held in Bradenton, Fla from March 1-9. After 20 players for the team have been chosen they will travel to Tampa, Florida where the first round games will be held for Group A. The 20-player roster for the team may also have players that are not in the Bradenton training camp and the final roster will be announced before the team travels to Tampa.
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Chicago Fire Have Question Marks In Goal
Posted on February 29, 2008 - Filed Under Chicago Fire | 1 Comment
The starting keeper for the Fire in the 2007 season was Matt Pickens, who left Chicago to play in Europe. The new starting goalie for the Fire is Jon Busch, but there will be competition for the starting keeper spot. Busch will be competing with Dominic Cervi of the University of Tulsa and Melford James Jr. out of Montevallo University, as well as Matt Noble, who was with the Fire last season. Come opening day the Fire will keep three keepers on the roster.
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Chicago and Columbus Bolster Attack
Posted on February 29, 2008 - Filed Under MLS | 1 Comment
As the season opener is less than a month away teams in the East are beginning to look to some offensive players for help, as many teams in the East need help up front. Recently both Chicago and Columbus addressed those needs with some recent acquisitions at the forward position.
Chicago Signs Polish Striker Frankowski
The Chicago Fore recently announced that the team had signed Polish forward Tomasz Frankowski. Frankowski (33) was the top scorer in the Polish Premier League three times. Frankowski began his soccer career in 1991 with Jagiellonia Bialystok and since then has played professionally in France, Poland, Japan, England, and Spain.
Read More...Now That Philly Is In, Where Next?
Posted on February 28, 2008 - Filed Under MLS, News | 3 Comments
The addition of a MLS franchise in Philadelphia has been cheered by many, yet others see the announcement as yet another blow to their city’s hope to retain a franchise.
MLS has already stated that it hopes to add two more teams by 2010, and eventually tack on two more teams by 2012. That would leave MLS with 20 teams, which is the highest number of squads FIFA has argued should compose a nation’s top tier league. So the question is (assuming MLS listens to FIFA): who gets the four remaining teams?
Read More...MLS Expansion To Include Philly (er, Chester?)
Posted on February 28, 2008 - Filed Under MLS, News | 6 Comments
What is more delicious than the perfect cheesesteak? Well, if you are from the Keystone State, perhaps a report that indicates MLS will award its sixteenth franchise to the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania this afternoon.
Well, not quite actually. The league will actually select Chester, Pennsylvania as the site of an expansion franchise to begin play in 2010.
Located twenty miles outside central Philadelphia, Chester had been a dying city until a few years ago. However, a recent economic boom (fueled by everyone’s favorite family-friendly way to raise tax revenue: legal gaming!) and a pledge by both the county and the state to put up significant amounts of dough (a combined $77 million buys alot of hoagie rolls) created the perfect scenario for Chester to be selected as the site of Philly’s soccer specific stadium.
Read More...DC United And San Jose Earthquakes play to Scoreless Draw
Posted on February 27, 2008 - Filed Under MLS | 2 Comments
The final game for the MLS Central Coast Showcase finally saw some good weather in front of 4,342 fans at Cal Poly’s University Alex G. Spanos Stadium. DC United and San Jose Earthquakes played on a muddy field and the outcome was a scoreless draw.
In the first half Marcello Gallardo of UC United but was forced to boot the ball as it was in a puddle that was ankle deep. The kick only went a few yards barely getting through the water. In the early part of the game both teams played hard and it was anything but a simple exhibition game. In the first 15 minutes of the game there were 11 fouls and 4 cautions. DC players Marc Burch, Dan Stratford and Devon McTavish and San Jose’s Joe Vide all received yellow cards.
Read More...De La Hoya Deal Close for Dynamo
Posted on February 26, 2008 - Filed Under Houston, MLS, News | 2 Comments
As mentioned in the Dynamo season preview a few weeks ago, all reports indicate that “The Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya will soon become part owner of the two-time defending MLS Cup champion Houston Dynamo.
According to recently published reports coming out of Houston, both De La Hoya and his business partner, Gabriel Brener, are each purchasing 25% of the team, leaving current owner AEG with the remaining 50%. Both De La Hoya and Brener will have to plop down an estimated $10 million though to get the deal done. That shouldn’t be a problem for Oscar though as he is, after all, the richest boxer in the history of the sport.
Read More...Eastern Moves: Revs Add One and Red Bulls Lose One
Posted on February 25, 2008 - Filed Under MLS | 2 Comments
As the MLS season nears teams are trying to shape their rosters to try to get the right mix for the 2008 season.
New England Revolution acquire midfielder Castro
The Revs, looking to bolster their midfield play, recently added Mauricio Castro from Honduras. Castro comes to New England from CD Olimpia in Honduras. The signed midfielder will take up one of the 8 international roster spots that each MLS team is allowed. The Revolution still need help at forward but Castro should help set the table for the attack up front of New England.
Read More...Gamba Osaka Wins Inaugural Pan Pacific Championship
Posted on February 24, 2008 - Filed Under MLS | 2 Comments
In front of 23,087 fans in Honolulu, Hawaii Gamba Osaka from Japan crushed the Houston Dynamo 6-1 to take the first ever Pan Pacific Championship. Brazilian striker Bare stood out in the final with four goals.
Read More...New York Red Bulls 2008 Season Preview
Posted on February 24, 2008 - Filed Under MLS, NY Red Bulls | 3 Comments
New York Red Bulls
2007 Record: 12-11-7 (3rd in East)
Coach: Juan Carlos Osorio (1st Year)
Key Players: Juan Pablo Angel, Claudio Reyna, Jozy Altidore
Key Pickups: Zach Thornton (Free Agency)
Key Losses: Clint Mathis (Ergotelis), Ronald Waterreus (Ret.)
2008 Outlook: Good
We don’t get many Ergotellis games on TV here in Alabama, which is a real shame. I will miss watching Clint Mathis play now that he has gone Greek. It’s fun to imagine what it would be like if Clint joined a Greek fraternity, instead of a Greek soccer team. It’s not that hard to imagine it either.
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