It's time for US Soccer to turn it's back on the Home Depot Center. It's time to stop this nonsense and start playing matches in cities that actually give a damn about American soccer. Alright I admit this isn't going to happen but that won't stop me from making the argument.
Let's begin with the most important black mark on the credibility of the Home Depot Center.

Fox Broadcasting will launch a new site starting March 1st called Fox Soccer Plus.

Announced on the Fox Soccer website, Fox Soccer Plus (FSP) is intended to complement Fox Soccer Channel (FSC) and complete the "ultimate soccer fan experience." The channel will be broadcast in HD.

On Thursday night in Philadelphia, MLS Commissioner Don Garber was interviewed on the Fox Football Fone-In show by Eric Wynalda and Nick Webster. There was one particular statement that Garber said that peaked my curiosity. It was in context of MLS and how the league has been in business for 15 years.

Ruud Gullit's failure as the head coach of the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer was another example of a foreign-based manager not taking the time to learn the system of MLS or to get a handle on being able to identify the American player.
In reading Andrea Canales' column on Goal.

Whether you be a Landon Donovan fan or detractor, it would be difficult to argue that his performance at Everton doesn't mean something for the broader reputation of American soccer. Fair or not,...

So, I had originally planned to use Kartik Krishneyer's jump from blogger to NASL PR hack as a chance to discuss ethics in blogging and whether Kartik was honest with his readers during the whole USL/NASL/USSF kerfuffle.
But, in the wake of reading Dan Loney's hall-of-fame-caliber, if slightly oblique, takedown of the man, I decided to save the J-School discussion of ethics for another time and instead to simply jump up and down on his stupid little head.

John Cleese gave the world his Ministry of Silly Walks. Chicago Fire technical director Frank Klopas is bucking to head the Ministry of Silly Statements.

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We interrupt regular programming to demonstrate how some people just don't get it.

For most Europeans, the January transfer window is all tease and no touch. Very few moves of true import happen in January, and that is especially true in a World Cup year, where players would rather see if the tournament can up their stock. However, for American soccer stars, the January transfer window, which occurs during the MLS off-season, is their best chance to find a new home.

NASL Media Release:
The North American Soccer League (NASL) announced the hiring of Kartik Krishnaiyer as its Director of Communications and Public Relations.
Best known in soccer circles as the host of the EPLTalk.com and MajorLeagueSoccerTalk.com podcasts, Krishnaiyer's connection to the NASL dates back to 1981, when he was a ball boy for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

The agreement is finally out. The U.S. Soccer Federation, United Soccer Leagues (USL) and the North American Soccer League (NASL) have come to an agreement on the formation and operation of a Division 2 professional soccer league for the 2010 season. The USSF will oversea the operation of the league.

So, will he or won't he?

Will Landon Donovan, now on loan at Everton, get on the field at the Emirates this weekend?

He's easily the most polarizing figure in American soccer and the debate on whether he's the best player ever to pull on a national team shirt or a spoiled kid that doesn't care about the game enough to reach his full potential can be saved for another post.

BLAINE, Minn. (January 7, 2010) – The National Sports Center (NSC) announced that it will form a new professional soccer team that will begin play this April as a member of a professional soccer league made up of teams from the United Soccer Leagues (USL) and the North American Soccer League (NASL)

The league will be a unified United States Soccer Federation (USSF)-sanctioned division II league.

The North American Soccer League (NASL) held its inaugural annual general meeting in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, last Thursday through Saturday. Representatives of the 11 member teams attended the meeting and made several key decisions following the announcement by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) last Thursday that teams from the NASL would play in a league administered by the USSF in for 2010 season.

We are now about two months away from the Philadelphia Union's primetime opener on ESPN2 against Seattle. With a new stadium on the way and an excited base of fans, Philly is set to become American soccer's latest success story. As we did last year, we hope to bring you a series of interviews with MLS marketing professionals to provide insight into how teams seek to promote their brand.

Yes it's been more than two weeks since the announcement was made here on MLS Talk, but as the old saying goes, better late than never. To my colleauge Kartik Krishnaiyer may I say congratulations on your hard work and dedication to the game here in the United States for your current position with the new North American Soccer League (N.

Amid the continuing troubles engulfing the USL's 1st and 2nd divisions, the league is busy organizing their extensive lower divisions' 2010 season. Last week they announced the 2010 "alignment" of the Premier Development League (PDL).
The PDL is made up of amateur teams (with a few pro exceptions), and college-age players (with a few older exceptions) who are, well, developing.

Two of the most important players in the past decade of American soccer have issued statements regarding the currently stalled negotiations between Major League Soccer and the Players Union over a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. Through FIFPro, Landon Donovan and Kasey Keller expressed their concerns on what a potential lock-out could do to the league and the sport in America if owners aren't willing to compromise on a few key issues.

From US Soccer:

CHICAGO (Jan. 7, 2010) – Representatives from the U.S. Soccer Federation, United Soccer Leagues and the North American Soccer League will discuss plans for a Division 2 professional soccer league in 2010 during a call on Thursday, Jan. 7, at 3 p.m. ET.

Reportedly Montreal Impact owner Joey Saputo has said there's a deal - one that might have us party like it's 1990, when the Western Soccer League and American Soccer League played separate schedules, then met in a championship game.

I'd like to apologize to the American soccer community for jinxing Clint Dempsey with my previous post. It was a bad move. It almost cost us. Clint limped off the field against Blackburn this weekend after injuring his knee and soccer fans across the United States all held their breath. Fortunately it seems Dempsey will be able to recover in time for the World Cup and the end of Fulham's season.

The Unified Government of Wyandotte County, Kansas, has unanimously approved a $414-million development plan that includes the construction of a new 18,000-seat soccer-specific stadium for the Kansas City Wizards, a large office complex for Cerner Corporation, and an 18-field, tournament-quality youth complex at Wyandotte County Park.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

There are plenty of big matches in leagues from Mexico to Germany, but many American soccer fans will be focused on the U.S. team's first match of the new year.

Tonight's USA-Honduras friendly in Carson, California is the marquee match of the day, though there are other high-profile encounters.

Lawsuit Dropped
While not breaking news, I thought I should clarify the situation with the United Soccer League (USL) lawsuit against 3 teams who have stated they want to play with the North American Soccer League (NASL).

On December 8, 2009, the USL filed a lawsuit in Hillsborough County Court in Florida claiming breach of contract and indebtedness for three teams they claim had made either verbal or written agreements to play for the USL.

This week, two big events will take place in Fort Lauderdale. The first is the Annual General Meeting of the newly formed North American Soccer League, which begins on January 7tth. With the controversial decision by the United States Soccer Federation last week to not sanction the startup league (which is largely formed by existing teams), the meetings are almost certain to yield some headline news.

Soccer House, Chicago A Special Series By Rob Luker This is the third installment in a four part series by Clarkson University business student Rob Luker. You can read Part I, American Soccer...

A Special Series by Rob Luker This is the final installment in Clarkson University business student Rob Luker's "American Soccer Business Plan". You can read Part I, American Soccer Ambitions here,...

I often rip the site and its partner sites, but credit is due to EPL Talk for being all over the story that Fox Sports International, FSC's parent company, is going to acquire Setanta Sports USA imminently. I agree that it sounds like Setanta couldn't make its payments to Fox for the Premier League rights.

Jozy Altidore Against Spain at Confederations Cup

As promised last week, here are my highlights from 2009 in American Soccer, in no particular order:

U.S. National Team Beats Spain in Confederations Cup Semi-Finals:

On June 24, 2009, in the Semi-Finals of the Confederations Cup, the U.

Freddy Adu and Eddie Johnson are two Americans who have had trouble finding regular playing time with their current clubs (Benfica and Fulham). Adu has been on a few loan deals since his time at Benfica and yet to earn regular playing time in any of them. Johnson, has only played a limited number of matches for Fulham and on his loan to Cardiff City last season.

There are still some details to be worked out when it comes to the league (North American Soccer League or NASL) and it's sanction by the USSF, but it's time to start preparing if you are interested in exploring 2nd Division soccer in the US.

OPEN TRYOUT INFORMATION

Interested in trying out for AC St.

When Freddy Adu and Eddie Johnson swapped MLS for European clubs, this was not the desired result.

Where other Americans have flourished, the duo has floundered. Johnson never contributed at Fulham, home to the successful Clint Dempsey, while Adu has bounced between a trio of clubs as he's struggled to fill the role of soccer savior many tabbed for him during his adolescence.

Do we want to read "interesting and entertaining stories well told" about soccer? I presume the answer to that is pretty obvious: hell yes. This is the same presumption that J Hutcherson at US Soccer Players ends a very interesting piece about the state of American soccer writing with:

I'm going to start the new year by making an assumption.

Fulham ended up losing 3 2, but Clint Dempsey's wonderstrike will still make this a memorable game for most American soccer fans. I've pondered the idea that this is actually the best goal ever scored by an American in a top soccer league. Some of you may point to John Harkes' goal against Derby County, but I'm giving Clint extra points for hitting his shot on the volley.

U.S. Soccer Will Oversee Two Conference League

CHICAGO (Jan. 7, 2009) – The U.S. Soccer Federation, United Soccer Leagues (USL) and the North American Soccer League (NASL) have come to an agreement on the formation and operation of a Division 2 professional soccer league for the 2010 season.

The U.S. Soccer Federation has brokered a temporary peace agreement between United Soccer Leagues and the North American Soccer League. The USSF announced Jan. 7 it had reached a deal with both sides for a Division 2 professional soccer league to play during the 2010 season. The agreement buys time for the three parties to build a long-term solution for the future.

From US Soccer:

DIVISION 2 PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE TO OPERATE IN 2010
U.S. Soccer Will Oversee Two Conference League
CHICAGO (Jan. 7, 2009) – The U.S. Soccer Federation, United Soccer Leagues (USL) and the North American Soccer League (NASL) have come to an agreement on the formation and operation of a Division 2 professional soccer league for the 2010 season.

Website to be revealed this week in conjunction with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America convention.

Jan. 11, 2010 – The North American Soccer League (NASL) held its inaugural annual general meeting in Ft. Lauderdale last Thursday through Saturday. Representatives of the 11 member teams attended the meeting and made several key decisions following the announcement by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) on Thursday that teams from the NASL would play in a league administered by the USSF in the 2010 season.

We will be adding links all day. Keep posted.
+ Combine News and Pick'Em Contest American Soccer News - Philly Union

The home city of the United States Soccer Federation, the nation's third largest city, the city that recently bid for the 2016 Olympic Games, the city that played host to the opening game in the 1994 World Cup, a city with a storied soccer history and a richly diverse soccer culture, my sweet home Chicago, is not on the list of cities for the United States' 2018 and 2022 World Cup bid, the Federation announced today.

The North American Soccer League has evidently acquired the rights to NASL.com. Just last week the site was still owned by the North Alabama Soccer League which is youth club. As of Thursday evening, a Google search of NASL.com showed the #1 hit to be a site that stated, "North Alabama Soccer League The Best Link for Soccer in Alabama" However, going to the link you will find a splash page which you can see below.

The National Sports Center, who will be fielding Minnesota's newest soccer team, took one more step forward today by announcing the teams player combine.

When

• » Monday, March 1st, 8:00pm Orientation Meeting
• » Tuesday, March 2, 8:30am – 11:00am AND 1:00pm-3:30pm
• » Wednesday, March 3, 8:30am – 11:00am AND 1:00pm-3:30pm
• » Thursday, March 4, 8:30am – 11:00am AND 1:00pm-3:30pm

Where

National Sports Center, 1700 105th Avenue NE, Blaine, Minnesota 55449

Fee

• » Commuter: $195/player, fee does NOT include on-site accommodations.