Photo by Brad Smith/ISIphotos.com

For Charlie Davies, perhaps not securing a full transfer or loan extension was the best tactic to take this winter after all.

Davies has been included on Sochaux's first-team roster for the club's league game at Stade Rennes on Saturday, marking a major milestone for him and his quest to break back into the club's lineup.

Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz

Philadelphia Union

Several Union players talk about preseason training at YSC SPorts last week. The team landed in Orlando on Sunday.

Danny Califf, acknowledging that only he and Brian Carroll are the only players remaining on the Union who are older than 27, tells MLSsoccer.

File photo: Nicolae Stoian

Philadelphia Union

On Thursday night, the Union held a town hall meeting with invited season ticket holders among the top 100 loyalty reward accounts. The discussion featured Nick Sakiewicz, Dave Rowan and Bob Rigby. Based on information from season ticket holders who were in attendance, as well as tweets from Union fan extraordinaire BarbCV from the event, here are some of the topics that were discussed:

• The Union is very sound financially with a very healthy coffer for improving existing player contracts and new player acquisition.

Just a quick round-up this morning:

Terry will go to the Euros...

• Shambolic! RT @RobHarrisUK BREAKING: England captain Terry not to stand trial on charge of racially abusing opponent until after Euro 2012.

The skinny: John Terry's legal trial regarding his alleged racial abuse of Anton Ferdinand postponed to the week of July 9th.

photo by Stephen Brashear/ISIphotos.com

Fresh off a successful Olympic qualifying campaign, U.S. women's national team head coach Pia Sundhage has called up 28 players for its upcoming friendly against New Zealand.

Nineteen of the 20 players on the Olympic qualifying roster were summoned by Sundhage for the Americans' first game on home soil this year, including Alex Morgan, Hope Solo and Abby Wambach.

Now that The USWNT team has qualified for the Summer Olympics after a superb tournament in Canada, Head Coach Pia Sundhage can now turn her focus onto her squads first friendly match of the new year against New Zealand. The match will be played at FC Dallas Stadium in Frisco, Texas, marking the eighth time the USWNT will play in the Lone Star State.

Hope Solo denies an Alex Morgan blast
Can't say there is much to report from U.S. WNT training in chilly Frisco, Texas. All the players are healthy and gunning for spots on the 18-player roster for the New Zealand game, but since there's not much new, we decided to put together a top-10 What's New?

Philadelphia Union

The Goalkeeper has a transcript of Wednesday's press conference with Peter Nowak. Among the highlights:

On Pajoy: "He's a guy who brings not only character but also a mentality to the game. He's very physical, and very fast as well. He can change the game, because he's a different option.

StoweStrong
By Pat McStay
The Virginia soccer community was hit hard a few weeks ago when William and Mary graduate and FC Richmond youth soccer coach, Ian Stowe was diagnosed with Germinoma, a type of germ cell tumor typically resulting from a failure of germ cells to migrate properly in the body.

StoweStrong
By Pat McStay
The Virginia soccer community was hit hard a few weeks ago when William and Mary graduate and FC Richmond youth soccer coach, Ian Stowe was diagnosed with Germinoma, a type of germ cell tumor typically resulting from a failure of germ cells to migrate properly in the body.

U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage has named the 18 players that will suit up against New Zealand tomorrow at 3 p.m. CT at FC Dallas Stadium. The game is expected to be a sell-out in the 20,500-seat venue and the U.S. players are looking forward to a fantastic Texas reception.
U.S. Roster vs. New Zealand
Feb.

The U.S. Women's National Team came from behind thanks to two late Alex Morgan goals to defeat New Zealand, 2-1, in an international friendly on Saturday afternoon at FC Dallas Stadium (formerly Pizza Hut Park) in Frisco, Texas. Morgan, who gained a reputation as a super-sub during the 2011 Women's World Cup, started this match, but still saved her best for late, tallying in the 88th minute and deep into stoppage time.

On a cold Friday in front of a sold out FC Dallas Stadium, the USWNT gave the fans something to go home happy about, even if took until the 88th minute to do so. After the US gave up an early second half goal against a strong willed New Zealand team, it did not look as if this game was going to go USA's way.

Photo by John Todd/ISIphotos.com

U.S. women's national team coach Pia Sundhage has named a 23-player preliminary roster for the Algarve Cup in Portugal, and there are no surprises in the bunch.

Abby Wambach, Hope Solo and Alex Morgan are among the usual suspects who will compete in the tournament's Group B along with Denmark, Norway and defending World Cup champion Japan followed by a placement game from Feb.

The U.S. WNT will depart for the Algarve region of Portugal next week in preparation for the 19th Annual Algarve Cup, a tournament that has become a fixture in the USA's yearly schedule and soccer culture.
U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage will bring 23 players to Portugal and choose 21 for the tournament roster.

Lauren Cheney, here talking to Asst. Coach Jill Ellis, had a breakout tournament at the Algarve Cup in 2010
Considering the U.S. WNT has played 63 matches all-time at the Algarve Cup, it's no surprise that more than a few young players have made their debuts at this annual tournament in Portugal.

She was recently in the running to pick up the FIFA Women's Ballon D'or award, but although it was teammate Abby Wambach who ended up in the top three (with Homare Sawa and Marta), USA goalkeeper Hope Solo still treasures her Golden Glove for an outstanding performance at the Women's World Cup.

Johan Cruyff is bringing his expertise to Mexico.

The Dutch legend will join Chivas de Guadalajara as an advisor this weekend in an effort to change the fortunes of the renowned Mexican club. Chivas has fallen on hard times, failing to win in their last 13 matches across all competitions and most recently getting blown out by Velez Sarsfield in the Copa Libertadores group stage on Wednesday.

Alex Morgan is rumored to be the next big-name signing by the Seattle Sounders Women, sources close to the situation have indicated to Sounder at Heart. Her signing could be announced next week.

Morgan was arguably the breakout star of the most recent Women's World Cup, scoring goals in both the semifinal and final for the United States women's national team.

Abby Wambach will have a new title at the London Games.

Coach Pia Sundhage recently named the 31-year-old Wambach a co-captain of the U.S. women's soccer team- or essentially the vice-captain to team leader Christie Rampone.

It makes sense, given that the dominant striker was already the team's go-to spokeswoman and vocal locker room leader.

The USA's practice on Saturday consisted of a closed-door training match against China on a stunningly beautiful afternoon in the Algarve.
The 90-minute scrimmage featured different U.S. teams in each half with the Americans coming away with a 3-0 triumph on goals from Alex Morgan, Heather O'Reilly and Sydney Leroux.

They don't call her Lightning for nothing...

The USA's training in the Algarve is basically done as just one practice remains before the team opens the tournament on Feb. 29 against Denmark. Once the games start -- there will be four in eight days -- the USA does more recovery than training.

U.S. WNT head coach Pia Sundhage has named the 21 players who will suit up for the four 2012 Algarve Cup matches. She brought 23 players to Portugal so only goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris and defender Meghan Klingenberg (who suffered a slight ankle injury during training this week) will not suit up for the games.