Photo by Jose L. Argueta/ISIPhotos.com

By THOMAS FLOYD

WASHINGTON - After 17 months of anticipation, Charlie Davies' return to top-flight action was, in one way, anticlimactic.

Having not played a first-team minute since suffering life-threatening injuries in a horrific October 2009 car accident near Washington, Davies pulled off his warm ups and prepared to enter D.

By Neil W. Blackmon Last week was one of the more eventful seven day periods in the history of MLS thanks o Real Salt Lake's 2-2 draw at Monterrey, and with the return leg Wednesday night providing the Claret and Cobalt an opportunity to be the first MLS side to win the competition in its [...]

By Neil W. Blackmon Obviously, this was a slow news week. Fortunately, there was at least one big story: Bob Bradley expects to announce his final roster for the 2011 Gold Cup in the next two weeks, with a target release date set in a five day period, May 16-20. As most our readers know, [...]

- Jason Davis
Charlie Davies just made it a bit harder for D.C. United to say no to a loan deal. Davies scored and provided an assist to Joseph Ngwenya in United's 5-1 victory over the Canadian U-20s in Fort Lauderdale. Even considering the competition, United can't ask much more of Davies than to spark the offense when given the chance during his week-long evaluation period.

Several Americans wound up making last-minute moves yesterday all loan deals as the winter transfer window came to a close. Here's a recap of all the action (and in some cases, lack of action):

As reported before, Michael Bradley and Freddy Adu both made moves, which were officially announced yesterday.

Learn about OSA World Juggle-a-thon - CLICK HERE!

VOTE HERE: Charlie Davies goal to be Week 8 MLS Goal of the Week

The U.S. v. Mexico rematch friendly is less than a week away, and today Jurgen Klinsmann unveiled his first list of call-ups as the head coach for the national team. The Mexico friendly comes at a tricky time for the U.S., as the bigger European leagues are kicking off this month and Klinsmann might have hesitated to call-up players overseas in these leagues.

In the past few weeks we've two impressive stories of professional soccer players battling off field problems. The first was David Testo who made public the fact that he is gay. That is challenging in and of itself, but it takes that much more courage to come out when you're a professional athlete. As impressive as that story was, I was struck by another.

Damn Charlie Davies, you just put the c***block on the All Star Game announcement. Well no, you didn't at all actually --Steven Goff maybe did just a 'lil bit though-- but news of your possible move to D.C. United dropping about 10 minutes after the All Star Game announcement was like a clusterbomb of MLS-related Twitlines.

I won't even go into the "Major" announcement that is the 2011 All-Star Game at Red Bull Arena. Not even worth going into detail over. Instead I feel this is more of a major news break for MLS and even for D.C. United.

Steve Goff is reporting that the club has been in serious discussions with French side Sochaux about the Washington-based club acquiring the US National team striker Charlie Davies.

- Jason Davis
The possibility that Charlie Davies could spend the year on loan to DC United is a natural marriage brought about by timing, the vagaries of the MLS allocation order system, and a shared need for both to find redemption in 2011.
Charlie Davies wants to play, DC United could do with some positive press.

Last night while sipping Oban with my dude Brent in the bar at the Hudson Hotel I did something truly rare: I thought of John O'Brien. This was because Brent brought him up when waxing nostalgic about about the 2002 World Cup, JOB's command of the U.S. midfield against Portugal while Claudio Reyna sat the bench and the feeling among many U.

It's only one match out of 34 for the 2011 season for D.C. United but what a match it was as the Black-and-Red thumped the visiting Columbus Crew 3-1 on the strength of two goals from Charlie Davies and a ...

To say New England's 2-1 win this afternoon over D.C. United was touched with controversy is akin to saying the recently departed Elizabeth Taylor was fond of marriage. Zach Schilawski and Shalrie Joseph both scored goals touched with question marks ...

The Galaxy celebrates Mike Magee's 12th minute gol against DC United

Okay, let's just get this out of the way at the top: Charlie Davies dove like a scuba professional searching for treasure in the Caribbean. He dove like the snout of a pig into the muck of the forest on the search for truffles.

by: Rick Allen
Quarter Volley
May 5, 2010
D.C. United took to the field at RFK Stadium last night looking to erase the memories of April, which saw the team win just one of its seven matches in all competitions, including a three-match overall losing streak to conclude the month.

Another National Team tournament, another confusing set of roster decisions from Bob Bradley.

Here is a look at six moves that could have been made to add depth and quality to the US team. Bradley's lineup features a number of his classic favorites who are either completely off of pace in their domestic leagues or serve no foreseeable purpose with this team.

- Jason Davis Charlie Davies took a dive last night, and the referee bought it. It wasn't pretty, but not everyone agrees that it wasn't right. Charlie either shamed himself or saved a point for this club, depending on one's view point. I bet you can guess which group of fans make up the majority of those ascribing to the latter.

No, it's not a new J.K. Rowling book, it's from the DC United v. Real Salt Lake match on Saturday night and it cost RSL the full three points. Bad Charlie...and dumb referee Terry Vaughn who had yet another terrible match, making mistakes and dumb decision all over the field.
This is the second bad dive executed by Davies this year who is falling like a rock in the eyes of American soccer fans for his blatant and honestly disgraceful cheating.

Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz

Union

Marc Narducci writes on the fact that teams seem content to come to PPL to play for a draw given the effectiveness of the Union's backline. "It's a tactic and the way they chose to play, and you have to respect that," Faryd Mondragon told Narducci. "Our job is to try to get the solution and find a way to break all these defensive tactics.

Union

From a first half that deserved the boos to a second half that we all hope is a harbinger of the future—what was the difference? Said Carlos Ruiz, "The difference between the first half and the second half was we were more compact in the second half. That was the key to win the game."

Or was it something else?

Photo by Connor Turner

Those who know my writing know that I have an affinity for DC United and have followed the team, with varying levels of intensity, since its inception. So it should surprise no one that I have been closely following the Black-and-Red this season, not just because of rooting interest but because this has shaped up to be an intriguing season for a number of reasons.

Photo of Taylor Twellman at Union's 2011 home opener by Earl Gardner.

Philadelphia Union

Deportivo Saprissa president Juan Carlos Rojas has confirmed in an interview with a Costa Rican radio station that the Union has been in contact with the club about Josue Martinez, saying "I would not go into much detail but there has been interest from Philadelphia [in Martinez].

The full statement from DC United:

"Charlie Davies is expected to join D.C. United in Ft. Lauderdale on Wednesday for a week-long evaluation period, which will include training and game time with the first team and a full medical evaluation by team doctors in DC. Details of a 12-month loan have already been negotiated, but nothing will be official until D.

Europe and their transfer deadline day grabbed all the headlines yesterday and today it was our domestic league's turn. Today Major League Soccer announced the site of the 2011 MLS All-Star Game (Red Bull Arena on July 27th; opponent TBA... more on this later) and it was revealed that Charlie Davies, yes, THE Charlie Davies is returning stateside to trial with D.

Photo: Paul Rudderow

Union

Alejandro Moreno discusses his departure from the Union. Clearly hurt at being let go, he is nevertheless one class act and ever the gentleman. Which you knew already after listening to the interview KYW and the PSP did with him on the Philly Soccer Show.

With DC United clearly in a rebuilding mode, gone are the days of entering the season with the expectation of challenging for an MLS Cup at the end. Coming off the worst season in team history, and three years and counting outside of the playoff picture, DC is reduced to hoping for simple competency in [.

It was an admittedly slow week in American soccer as the American sports scene shifted to Dallas and the American football Super Bowl. Within the soccer world some amazing results and goals from the English Premier League overshadowed almost all the other soccer news. But nevertheless there were some noteworthy happenings in MLS this past weekend; as usual, share your thoughts and anything I missed in the comments section.

By Neil W. Blackmon Three thoughts on the week that was for your Friday morning, with a Puck's Friday Happy Hour I think you'll find excellent and a weekend preview piece coming on a big Friday here at The Yanks Are Coming. Let's not delay—there's plenty to get to, and there is no place to [...]

By Neil W. Blackmon This is the second of seven pieces highlighting the most intriguing subplots of the upcoming MLS season. Our first two preview pieces are linked below: Number 7: Omar Bravo: Next Designated Player to Fail, or is Sporting KC the place for a revival? MLS Eastern Conference Preview: Five Most Intriguing Sides [.

Recently the owner of One Match Ban emailed and asked a few quick questions about what I'd predict for the upcoming MLS season. I decided to write them down and make a post of it right here.

1. Tip for the MLS Cup?
Los Angeles Galaxy.

He may have come off the bench and he wasn't the player of the game, but the night belonged to Charlie Davies. Just one goal was enough to make it an unforgettable night at RFK, but that would have been too ordinary for Davies' story. There had to be something even more special than his penalty conversion, it had to be two.

What an unbelievable start for both D.C. United and former USMNT rising star, Charlie Davies on Saturday night at RFK.
Take a look at the videos below to see Davies score 2 goals in his first MLS game for United and the post game interview with an emotional Charlie Davies.

Eighty-eight minutes into this match, the post-mortem taking shape in my head made for grim reading. It was splashed with gory reminders of last year's numerous "toothless attack, defensive letdown, no creativity in midfield" sad-sack match reactions. It was laced with words and phrases like "stagnant" and "static" and "useless" and "balls magnetically attracted to the touchline" and "pedestrian.

In preperation for tonights home match agianst the Seattle Sounders FC, check out this Q&A with MLS leading scorer, Charlie Davies.
Though it is still early in the MLS season (7 weeks in) United Head Coach Ben Olsen will be looking to mix up spots in tonights lineup in an attempt to stop the current losing streak and hopefully slow down the rate at which United have been surrendering goals.

A goal line clearance and a pair of saves from FC Dallas goalkeeper Kevin Hartman (left) kept this match scoreless and denied United a chance to win back-to-back games for the first time since June 2009. Photo: Martin Fernandez.

D.C. United Director of Digital Media Mark McClure said it best. According to McClure, the Internet is fairly easy to command. Simply throw a picture of a shirtless dude or a puppy online, and you will attract a sizable audience. In a cheap move to grab more viewers, I have offered both elements in this post.

Beckham vs DC
A game of missed chances and lost opportunities. United arrived in their third kits, the all-red. The Galaxy threatened early on however it appeared that through and through United was more threatening. 20,036 fans were on hand to witness the match at the Home Depot Center.
Bruce Arena compensated for his missing players by pushing Beckham in centrally to compensate for their depleted roster.