The Columbus Crew announced on Wednesday that their technical director and US National Team alum
Brian Bliss will be assisting Under-20 National Team coach Tab Ramos. He will remain in his role
with Columbus. "Having played for the national team, it is an honor to be asked to return and
contribute in another way," Bliss said in a press release announcing the additional role.
Columbus Crew technical director Brian Bliss can add U.S. Under-20 national team assistant coach
to his resume after becoming the first assistant appointed to Tab Ramos' staff on Wednesday.
Bliss will maintain his duties with the Crew while assuming the added international
responsibilities.
As Revolution president Brian Bilello's self-imposed 7 day deadline approaches, we here at The
Bent Musket wanted to take a look at a few of the "serious" names on the short list of possible
candidates. With Paul Mariner re-upping his contract with Toronto FC (amazingly, Mariner re-signed
almost IMMEDIATELY after meeting with the Revs) New England was left with only a few truly solid
choices that made sense, followed by quite a few question marks.
As Revolution president Brian Bilello's self-imposed 7 day deadline approaches, we here at The
Bent Musket wanted to take a look at a few of the "serious" names on the short list of possible
candidates. With Paul Mariner re-upping his contract with Toronto FC (amazingly, Mariner re-signed
almost IMMEDIATELY after meeting with the Revs) New England was left with only a few truly solid
choices that made sense, followed by quite a few question marks.
The Chicago Fire haven't had much to celebrate in a season marred by the ouster of coach Carlos
de los Cobos and a league-low four wins through 26 games.
But Tuesday's 2-1 triumph over the Richmond Kickers put Chicago in the U.
Through a couple twists of fate, Saturday's match between D.C. United and the Vancouver
Whitecaps will be an unlikely clash between a mentor and his onetime apprentice.
Vancouver interim coach Tom Soehn will be matching wits on the touchline with Chad Ashton,
his top assistant when he coached United from 2007 to 2009.
The first day of the Chad Ochocinco era in Kansas City wasn't exactly a smashing success.
The Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver acknowledged he was behind the pace Wednesday as he began
his trial with Sporting Kansas City, telling reporters, "The only thing I'm probably good at is
just being fast as hell.
By Clemente Lisi - NEW YORK, NY (Mar 2, 2011) US Soccer Players --There was a time when the only
mentors American soccer players had growing up were foreign-born. Whether it was Pele or George
Best during the 1970s in the original NASL or Tatu and Steve Zungul of MISL fame throughout the
1980s, a lot has changed in this country's soccer landscape over the last several decades.
Hello one and all! I'm Dizzo and you may remember me from my extensively long look at the recent
drafts. I had plenty of write-ups on candidates although I missed many of the Sounders selections.
It just goes to show I have a long way to go before I get an invite from the Sounders front office
to do scouting.
For those outside Seattle and Toronto who can consider the Columbus Crew in a context other than
what city you think the team needs to relocate to, there's been quite an upheaval at Ohio
Fairgrounds Soccer Park this winter. Technical Director Brian Bliss and Coach Robert Warzycha have
taken the torch to the Crew's roster, leaving only 10 players from the 2008 Championship team.
Columbus Crew midfielder Dilly Duka is upset about his lack of playing time thus far in his rookie
season and has taken to the media to air his frustrations. Speaking to the Columbus Dispatch's
'Covering the Crew' blog, the 20-year-old says he feels as though he has worked hard enough in
training to at least merit a spot on the team's 18-man gameday roster now and then, but is
regularly being overlooked.
This post is probably longer than it should be. If you want the cliffnotes, head over here. We're
going in a little more depth on the crazy train today.
So, even though there's not a contract in hand, it looks like the general consensus from people who
know what they're talking about (congratulations on graduating to that category, Sean Michelle, you
dirty hippy you) is that Guillermo Barros Schelotto has re-signed with the Crew for 2010.
Emilio Renteria is now a member of the Columbus Crew. The 24-year-old Venezuelan has European
experience with Spain's Levante (2001-04) and spent last season as part of the Caracas squad that
made the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals. "Emilio has been on our radar for some time now and we're
pleased to get him signed," said Crew technical director Brian Bliss.
The idea of a 'manager' in most cultures of professional soccer or football is all-encompassing,
really a combination of the job description of a 'head coach' and 'general manager' here in our
American sports.
Major League Soccer sees most of it's teams employ both a 'Head Coach' and a 'Technical Director',
and L.
In the second installment of our two-part feature on Technical Directors in Major League Soccer,
L.E. Eisenmenger speaks with Paul Bravo of the Colorado Rapids, Brian Bliss of the Columbus Crew,
interim head coach Peter Vermes of the Kansas City Wizards, and Mike Burns of the New England
Revolution about what their clubs currently do with player development and what they would like to
see from MLS.
Curt Onalfo has been fired as head coach of the Kansas City Wizards, teams sources informed
SBI on Monday evening. The club is expected to name an interim head coach on Tuesday (with general
manager Peter Vermes mentioned as a likely choice to take the position for the remainder of the
year).
Their Words "With the coach, his teammates and the fan base, there seems to be an incident around
every corner he turns." Columbus technical director Brian Bliss, speaking to The Columbus Dispatch
about Andres Mendoza. Other Sources US sticks to its tried-and-true formula - from ESPN.com's
Leander Schaerlaeckens: The US tends to sort out its own game before looking over to see what
everybody else is doing.
Some will call it a mercy killing. The New York Post's Brian Lewis tweeted this morning that Red
Bulls coach Hans Backe was told by GM Erik Soler not to expect SuperLiga to happen in 2011. On top
of Columbus technical director Brian Bliss sharing the same news last week, it looks like the
tournament everyone loves to hate might finally be put to rest.
The rumor (Update: It's false - see bottom of this post) that the US Open Cup winner won't
receive a spot in next year's CONCACAF Champions League has been bouncing around for quite some
time. Until now, it's all been speculation, with much of it emanating from Adrian Hanauer out in
Seattle. Though the confederation has still yet to confirm the rumor, you can add the Crew's
technical director Brian Bliss to those who say it probably won't happen.
The U-19 FC Delco Hammerheads fell 1–0 to Ohio's Crew Juniors in the US Youth Soccer National
Championship final on Saturday night. With the win, the Crew Juniors become the first MLS youth
academy team to win the James P. McGuire Cup.
Opening play was free flowing. In the 12th minute, a long throw in front of goal skipped just
out of the reach of FC Delco's Matthew Sanner.
The U-19 FC Delco Hammerheads fell 1–0 to Ohio's Crew Juniors in the US Youth Soccer National
Championship final on Saturday night. With the win, the Crew Juniors become the first MLS youth
academy team to win the James P. McGuire Cup.
Opening play was free flowing. In the 12th minute, a long throw in front of goal skipped just
out of the reach of FC Delco's Matthew Sanner.
Busy day here in the office for me, not only are there lots of links to discuss tonight but just
lots going on in the world in general. We have a few MLS items up tonight, one USL thought, some
USMNT thoughts and thoughts on a Euro-Super League.
MLS Interested In Buying USL
Link
By now a lot of you have probably already read this.
Wizards defender Roger Espinoza, became the 6th Wizards player to be named to a World Cup roster
while playing for the Wizards. He becomes only the second Wizard to play for a foreign national
team, following in the steps of Uche Okafor, who played for Nigeria in the 1998 World Cup in
France. In the 4 World Cups that have taken place since the birth of the league in 1996, the
Wizards have been represented at every one of them.
Thomas Dooley's leadership during a crucial growth period for the US can never be
overstated
Last week, two of my all-time favorite US National team players, Thomas Dooley and Preki
Radosavljevic, were elected into the Nation Soccer Hall of Fame for the class of 2010. I often look
at these two players, especially Dooley, as players who helped the US transition into the modern
day model of international success for the US.
Another week of former SKC Wizards updates, some extra news this week as well. By now you've heard
about Craig Rocastle signing with the Missouri Comets, but there's other news as well. Eddie
Johnson's club career continues to spiral down for him, as he's already out at Puebla in Mexico.
Apparently the forward failed his physical and was not fit and was released basically 2 days after
showing up in Mexico.
Brian Bilello's announced seven-day window from the time of his conference call until the naming
of a new head coach is winding to a close, and so far we've learned a few things about the
Revolution's quest:
There were around a dozen candidates identified and interviewed
Jimmy Conrad announced, to no one in particular, that he was not interested in the job because
he hated football lines and had too much respect for Steve Nicol
Paul Mariner, Steve Ralston, Jay Heaps, and Brian Bliss are definitely among the
candidates
Paul Mariner ruled himself out immediately after interviewing, accepting a 2-year extension
with Toronto
The candidates were gleaned from a diverse array of backgrounds, with MLS and non-MLS
experience throughout
It's probably a little late, but I'd like to take this opportunity to put forward my number-one,
most prized candidate for the job.
The rumors are flying (presumably on Air Canada) about whose name will come up when the Montreal
Impact name their first MLS coach on Wednesday.
The frontrunner, according to The Washington Post's Steven Goff, is former Chivas USA and Chicago
Fire star Jesse Marsch, who is reportedly a friend of Matt Jordan, the former MLS goalkeeper who is
now director of soccer operations for the Impact.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. The New England Soccer Hall of Fame announced its 2010 class of inductees at
the Portuguese Sporting Club Tuesday night.
Jose "Joe" Barroso, Brian Bliss, Tony Crescitelli, Manny Matos, Patricia Votolato and Bojan "Bo"
Vuckovic will be honored by the Hall on November 14, 2010 at 12:30pm at the Riviera Inn in East
Providence, RI.
