This may come to be a bit of a surprise to most that follow DC United. According to Steve Goff
the club has removed interim New York manager Richie Williams from their shortlist of coaches that
they are looking to hire.
Goff says the club is looking to make a hire this week and is looking currently at former Kansas
City manager Curt Onalfo, some college coaches and some from overseas.
Danny Califf set to return to Major League Soccer. (Getty Images)
One way to be sure a new club is good is to get some solid defense and Peter Nowak is trying to
do just that. According to Soccer365.com Philadelphia Union is set to make a deal for the MLS
player rights to US National Team defender Danny Califf.
Stuart Holden deserves a raise, but will he get it? (Getty Images)
For a few weeks we've learned that Stuart Holden and Major League Soccer have been in serious
discussions about him staying in the league with the Houston Dynamo. Scotland's Evening Times is
reporting that the league has offered Holden a "ten-fold increase" in his salary.
Stuart Holden has plenty of offers now. (Getty Images)
We know MLS is trying to keep him but some clubs overseas want to have him pretty badly.
According to multiple reports out of England and Scotland, Premier League side Blackburn Rovers
is now in hot pursuit of Stuart Holden.
Of course that goes with Holden's other possible suiters in SPL clubs Aberdeen and Rangers.
Freddy Adu's time at Portuguese club Belenenses appears over, likely for good according to
reports out of Europe (via SBI).
Belenenses has a new manager and he is cutting some dead weight, including Adu.
Adu had struggled for playing time with Belenenses since his arrival in the fall, but will now
face even stiffer competition for minutes at Benfica.
Time for more thoughts on the World Cup draw from yesterday. Most seem to still be happy with
the US draw in Group C with England. Hell even the folks across the pond in England love this draw
for themselves of course. I just wonder how long it will be before we see Tim Howard, Clint Dempsey
and Landon Donovan in Revolutionary War uniforms hyping this opening match with the Red Coats.
A nice little media event took place earlier today in the Gateway City with Jeff Cooper and the
rest of the St. Louis United bunch to reveal the club's name and crest.
The club is going to be called AC St. Louis. The logo as you see is pretty basic and I
definitely like the colors (I'm a sucker for anything green and yellow).
More 2010 MLS SuperDraft talk here now. MLS Insider is reporting that U-17 midfielder Jack
McInerney has signed a Generation adidas contract with Major League Soccer, joining Akron's Teal
Bunbury and Blair Gavin along with U-20 star Dilly Duka.
A formal announcement is expected soon.
So is the new NASL going to expand similar to the old NASL? It is almost starting to sound that
way as clubs continue to line up to join the new league. While the approval by the USSF is still
under review we learned today that Edmonton could be set to join the new league.
The Edmonton club will replace the Vancouver club once they join Major League Soccer in 2011
according to the report.
So he's 50/50 on a transfer out of MLS this winter. He sounds like he is trying once again to
leave MLS but I may be one that just doesn't buy it.
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Well the US is going to Group C for next year's World Cup in South Africa and the draw is very
favorable.
I'll be back later today with more thoughts on this but first here are all the groups, feel free
to discuss.
Group A
-South Africa
-Mexico
-Uruguay
-France
Group B
-Argentina
-Nigeria
-South Korea
-Greece
Group C
-England
-USA
-Algeria
-Slovenia
Group D
-Germany
-Australia
-Serbia
-Ghana
Group E
-Netherlands
-Denmark
-Japan
-Cameroon
Group F
-Italy
-Paraguay
-New Zealand
-Slovakia
Group G
-Brazil
-North Korea
-Ivory Coast
-Portugal
Group H
-Spain
-Switzerland
-Honduras
-Chile
What's Mrs. Beckham been up to?
Well, she's been in the UK to pay her respects to hubby David's grandfather, threw on a full
length diva gown from her own line at the British Fashion Awards, got involved in a pose-off with
Kate Moss- and then... we're guessing she's launched her own espionage agency.
MLS loses out on yet another young star like Dartmouth's Craig Henderson. (photo via
Dartmouth)
'Tis the season for players to head to Sweden, Norway and Denmark. Last week the MLS Draft
Combine list was released but this morning news from Sweden reports that one college star will not
be going the MLS route and instead will be headed to Sweden.
- Wake up, as per norm, in a pile of money.
- Kiss Crouchie, and jump in the shower.
-Throw on a tight LBD, buzz for hairdressing services.
-After a great messy blow-out, call for chauffeur to head to the Olympia to support bestie, Toni
Terry in her dressage debut.
- Pose for photographs and seek out alcohol.
It was a deal that we saw coming for the last couple week and now it is official. Everton FC
formally announced the completion of the Landon Donovan loan move on Friday, clearing the way for
him to make his 10-week stay with the English Premier League side.
Donovan will join fellow US National Team member Tim Howard with the Toffees after the New Year,
pending acceptance of his UK work permit application.
Just noticed while going through a few things that some spambots were gobbling up things around
here this evening. I'd like to apologize if this site is slowed down in any shape or form tonight.
I was given an email by my host that let me know they are addressing the issue. Apparently a recent
change in my site's DNS (meaning the site's hosting address not the www.
Everyone is doing it so why not. I even went as far as putting all the pots together and drawing
out each country one-by-one, though with paper and not little plastic balls. Since this is pure
guess work its probably far from what will actually happen tomorrow afternoon.
So here we go.
Two friendlies are close to being officially announced for the US national team's 2010 World Cup
warm up schedule.
According to reports out of Honduras, the US men's national team will face fellow World Cup
participant Honduras on Sunday, January 24 at Home Depot Center in Carson, California.
I brought his name up in a recent SuperDraft watch (should have another one of those out soon),
and now he is set to enter next month's SuperDraft according to SBI.
Who am I talking about? UConn's stellar defensive-midfielder from Finland Toni Stahl has agreed
to sign a contract with the league, joining former Rutger's standout Dilly Duka for next month's
SuperDraft.
Will Bates has lead Virginia in scoring this year.
Yes today has been a MLS SuperDraft kind of day around with news about the combine and players
potentially signing with the league to enter next month's draft. I figured I would continue the
trend with another look at things with another watch list.
A few weeks ago I introduced you to The Group Of Death via a video showing a special package
from ESPN that was delivered to my doorstep. But now, in homage to Spinal Tap and for a little bit
of fun on a Friday, we have a video of The Group Of Death rock band playing the first song off
their EP entitled "Welcome To The Group Of Death" (see above).
Before I start - this is not a rant, nor is it a critical analysis of our youth system or our
manager. I think we have the best manager in the world and also the best youth set-up in the world,
but and it is a big but, as in everything in life there are flaws, and this post is about a certain
flaw- AKA Theo Walcott.
Who Will Advance From World Cup Group A?(answers)
Who do you think will advance from Group A in the 2010 World Cup? It's a very tough group
featuring four excellent countries. South Africa, as host, will have a lot of pressure on them to
advance. France will be the most hated team in the World Cup as people around the globe will be
rooting for them to lose after the Ireland debacle.
It's been a few weeks since I last posted a podcast by Jared Montz on here. In that time he's
interviewed a few folks but none maybe more interesting than Real Salt Lake's star midfielder Kyle
Beckerman.
You can subscribe to the Jared Montz Soccer Podcast for Free in iTunes by clicking here.
Yesterday Landon Donovan signed a new four year deal with MLS, and simultaneously confirmed the
rumors that he would soon be off to Everton on a loan deal:
"This is a very exciting day for me," Donovan said. "This has been a very ... I would
say ... interesting decision for me.
Nothing like a little late night TV, last night David Beckham was on one of those late shows.
Which one? The one on TBS. I know you're asking, "there's a late show on TBS? Who's the host?" Well
it's George Lopez.
Hat tip to SF at The Offside Rules for the video.
Rendering of the potential KC Wizards Stadium.
According to a report in the Kansas City Business Journal, the Kansas City Wizards have picked a
new location for their potential new home at the West Village in Kansas City, Kansas.
"Although the formal agreements have yet to be inked, we're confident enough in the pace and
direction that, starting next week, you'll begin to see yellow machines on site at Village West in
Kansas moving dirt, at our expense," Heineman wrote in the letter, posted on the Wizards' Web
site.
Construction at new KC Stadium. (photo via Kansas City Wizards)
That sound you hear coming from Kansas City, Kansas is the sound of progress. Cheesy indeed but
good news either way for Wizards fans and fans of Major League Soccer in general.
The hard hats are out and the big yellow trucks are already moving dirt.
Columbia continues to be a big market for Major League Soccer. SBI is reporting the league has
signed three new players, all from Columbia and all defenders today.
America De Cali central defender Edward Zea, Deportivo Cali central defender Pablo Escobar and
Deportes Quindio central defender Hanyer Mosquera have been signed by MLS and have already had
discovery claims placed on them by various MLS teams.
I first read this report earlier this morning and thought the idea was a good one. Goal.com is
reporting that former US Men's National team star Eric Wynalda is in discussions with the Chicago
Fire about their head coach opening.
Fire technical director Frank Klopas flew down to the LA area recently to meet with Wynalda.
Danny Mwanga could be a top five pick.
As of today we have four quality players in the 2010 Generation adidas class but soon enough we
could have a few more. Both SBI and Buzz Carrick are reporting that multiple big names could be
joining the already impressive class for next month's draft.
Chivas USA is set to name a new head coach tomorrow afternoon at the Home Depot Center and
according to both SBI and Steve Goff that man will be Martin Vasquez.
Vasquez apparently beat out former LA Galaxy and USMNT head coach Steve Sampson for the gig.
Obviously his roots were a big factor for this hire, not to mention his background with clubs in
Mexico and with Bayern Munich in Germany helped him out.
FIFA announced today that, for Friday's World Cup draw. Previous pot predictions had France in
the top pot over the Netherlands. Had FIFA gone with rankings after October France would have been
in the top pot over England.
The US has been seeded in Pot 2 along with the rest of the CONCACAF teams and Asian teams.
The day we have all been waiting for has finally arrived.
In just a few hours, the groups for the 2010 FIFA World Cup will be drawn (Noon,
ESPN/FSC/Univision/ESPN360.com) and all 32 teams will know which opponents will be awaiting them
at next summer's World Cup in South Africa.
For the United States, today's draw will be about hoping to avoid a brutal group, though the
odds are against the Americans avoiding at least a tough path to the second round.
Needed midfielder to fill perennially injured Mikael Arteta's shoes.
The buzz is that Landon Donovan is heading to Everton this transfer season on a three month loan
from the Galaxy.
Instant impact. Check.
Counterattacking speed and link up play with Saha and Agbeyeni Yakubu very
essential.
What's Mrs. Beckham been up to?
Well, she's been in the UK to pay her respects to hubby David's grandfather, wore a full length
diva gown from her own line at the British Fashion Awards, got involved in a pose-off with Kate
Moss- and then... we're guessing she's launched her own espionage agency.
The search for the next head coach of DC United continues as one of the leading candidates
withdraws from consideration this evening. Akron head coach Caleb Porter seemed to be a shoe-in for
the job but has decided to stay on with the Zips. The Akron Beacon Journal is reporting Porter has
signed an extension with the University for another five years.
You really have to like what the USSF is doing to try and get the USMNT ready for next summer's
World Cup. After being rumored for months, the USSF announced today the US will play third-ranked
Netherlands on March 3 in Amsterdam.
The Americans will face the Dutch at Amsterdam ArenA on March 3 (2:30pm, ESPN2/Galavision).
- Wake up, as per norm, in a pile of money.
- Kiss Crouchie, and jump in the shower.
-Throw on a tight LBD, buzz for hairdressing services.
-After a great messy blow-out, call for chauffeur to head to the Olympia to support bestie, Toni
Terry in her dressage debut.
- Pose for photographs and seek out alcohol.
Cristian Castillo celebrates a goal against the US.
DC United has announced the addition of midfielder Cristian Castillo, a member of the Salvadoran
national team who will join United on loan from Leon, a second-division Mexican club. Terms of the
deal were not disclosed, and Castillo will join the team upon receipt of his international transfer
certificate and work visa.
