Thank God it's blow off work in the afternoon day...Let's start with Earnie Stewart, who talks Jozy with ESPN's Leander Schaerlaeckens.Everton keeper Tim Howard talks about his goal and the loss against Bolton.What's that you say, Timmy? Had it happen to you before? Oh dear, you should not have said that to my ears.

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Carlos Bocanegra has enjoyed a distinguished career as a U.S. national team defender, and he joined exclusive company on Tuesday, becoming the 12th player in U.S. Soccer history to reach 100 caps.

The steady U.S. captain marked the 3-2 victory over Slovenia by joining Cobi Jones, Jeff Agoos, Landon Donovan, Marcelo Balboa, Claudio Reyna, Paul Caligiuri, Eric Wynalda, Kasey Keller, Earnie Stewart, Tony Meola and Joe-Max Moore in the century club at the start of his 90-minute shift.

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Jurgen Klinsmann is under a little bit of heat overseas for one of his recent personnel decisions.

According to reports out of the Netherlands, AZ Alkmaar coach Gertjan Verbeek criticized Klinsmann for calling up Jozy Altidore for the United States' friendlies against Costa Rica and Belgium.

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United States national team striker Jozy Altidore was introduced at new club AZ Alkmaar on Wednesday, putting pen to paper on a four-year deal that seals his permanent move from Spanish club Villarreal.

Altidore, who will wear the No.

Jozy Altidore has a new club and with it an opportunity for us to learn a bit more about Holland's Eredivisie. That's the league where Oguchi Onyewu spent the second half of the 2010-11 season and where players like Earnie Stewart, DaMarcus Beasley, and Michael Bradley found success. With an American behind the scenes and another on the field, here's what you need to know about AZ.

Jozy Altidore has said that details are being finalized on a transfer to AZ Alkmaar of the Dutch Honor Division. An announcement could come next week. Former U.S. international and 2011 National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee Earnie Stewart is the Director of Football at AZ.
Signed by Villarreal in 2008 for for an MLS record fee thought to be around the $10 million mark, Altidore has had loan stints at Xerez in Spain, Hull City in the English Premier League and Bursaspor in Turkey.

STARTERS
Jozy Altidore on Twitter today: "To all my amazing fans, I have indeed agreed to terms to join AZ In holland! Thanks for all the love and the hate it's all making me better!"
-The Technical Director of AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands in none other than former USA national team great Earnie Stewart.

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By FRANCO PANIZO

BOCA RATON, Fla. - Jozy Altidore's club career since heading over to Europe has not gone as well as he would have liked, and that might explain why Altidore was full of smiles when he announced the next phase in his career.

United States National Team forward Jozy Altidore is now a member of AZ Alkmaar, the club most associated with its US National Team alum and AZ's director of football Earnie Stewart. Alkmaar bought Altidore's contract from La Liga club Villarreal. Altidore joins the Eredivisie club after spending part of last season on loan with Bursaspor in Turkey's topflight.

The Jozy Altidore-to-AZ Alkmaar link continues to persist.

The U.S. striker is reportedly seen as a fit for the Dutch Eredivisie club, which just offloaded striker Kolbeinn Sigthorsson to Ajax. Financial complications could prevent the move from happening, according to reports from the Netherlands.

The Eredivisie suitor for Jozy Altidore is AZ Alkmaar. I just spoke to NSC pal Earnie Stewart and a proper report will drop on MLSS once somebody in New York gets to the office.So, now that we know this... will it come off?If they sell Kolbeinn Sigthórsson to Ajax, probably.Will Sigthórsson move to Ajax?

Steve Cherundolo celebrates with the RFK faithful on Oct. 14, 2009.
The U.S. Men will be playing their 21st game at RFK Stadium on Sunday, the most of any venue other than the Los Angeles Coliseum which has also hosted the MNT 21 times. The U.S. history there dates to 1977, and the most recent appearance was a 2-2 tie with Costa Rica on Oct.

On a tough afternoon for US soccer supporters, the United States lost 4-0 to Spain in front of over 64,000 fans at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The United States started a mix of veterans and squad players against an equally experimental Spain. Without Landon Donovan (illness) or Carlos Bocanegra (rested), US coach Bob Bradley opted to leave regulars Michael Bradley, Steve Cherundolo, and Clint Dempsey on the bench.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The National Soccer Hall of Fame inducted Cobi Jones, Eddie Pope, Earnie Stewart, Bruce Murray and Bob Gansler in a ceremony held at Showcase Live in Foxboro on Saturday. Jones, Pope and Stewart were inducted in the player category, while Murray was inducted on the Veteran's ballot and Gansler was inducted as a builder.

Cobi Jones is considered a legend of US Soccer and MLS. Having played in Europe, South America and for his beloved LA Galaxy, Jones truly is a great of the US game. The 4th of June sees him inducted into the Hall of Fame alongside former team mate Eddie Pope, as well as Earnie Stewart, Bruce Murray and former U.

Legendary Milwaukee coach Bob Gansler will be inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in a ceremony June 4 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., U.S. Soccer announced today.

The induction ceremony for the Class of 2011 – Gansler, Cobi Jones, Eddie Pope, Earnie Stewart and Bruce Murray – will precede the U.

The National Soccer Hall of Fame Class of 2011 will be inducted prior to the USA – Spain game on June 4th at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA, the US Soccer Federation announced on Wednesday. Cobi Jones, Eddie Pope, and Earnie Stewart were elected in the Players category, with Bruce Murray as a Veteran, and former National Team coach Bob Gansler as a Builder.

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Over the years, the D.C. United-New York Red Bulls rivalry has included some of the biggest names -- of both players and coaches -- in Major League Soccer history. Names like John Harkes, Marco Etcheverry, Luciano Emilio, Alecko Eskandarian, Jaime Moreno, Ben Olsen, Eddie Pope, Earnie Stewart, Mike Petke, Jozy Altidore, Clint Mathis, Juan Pablo Angel, Tab Ramos, Tony Meola, Tim Howard, Bruce Arena and Bob Bradley.

The Seattle Sounders are on the road this weekend in San Jose to face the Earthquakes. The Sounders need to secure three points to get their season back on track especially against a rival in the West for that vital third playoff spot. Dave Clark has three questions up for the game and come back to SAH later today for a match preview and line-up card.

I have a Top 5 USMNT v Parguay Afterthoughts coming in a bit (translation: after I cook/eat dinner). For now, let's just make sure everyone is caught up on my latest output elsewhere...- Earnie Stewart reacts to his HOF selection- Postcard From Europe: new Osnabrück boss Joe Enochs- My USMNT v Paraguay Player Ratings- All that's left to play for with Americans Abroad, Pt 1- An international break

Cobi Jones, who played more games for the U.S. men's team than anyone else, was elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame on Tuesday along with three-time World Cup veterans Eddie Pope and Earnie Stewart.
The Hall of Fame itself is actually closed, but inductions continue.

Fittingly, Bob Gansler was lecturing at a coaching clinic in Florida when he heard the news on Tuesday.

Gansler, who coached the Kansas City Wizards (now known as Sporting Kansas City) to their only two MLS Cup appearances — winning the championship 2000 — was elected Tuesday to the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Milwaukee's Bob Gansler has earned yet another accolade in recognition of his remarkable coaching career.

Gansler will be inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame this year in the Builder category, the U.S. Soccer Federation announced Tuesday.

He joins former U.

Washington, D.C. (March 29, 2011) - Former D.C. United stars Eddie Pope and Earnie Stewart were elected to the 2011 National Soccer Hall of Fame. Announced earlier today by U.S. Soccer, Pope earned a spot on 74 percent of the ballots and Stewart on 71 percent of the ballots.
In response to Pope's announcement, D.

Washington, D.C. (March 29, 2011) - Former D.C. United stars Eddie Pope and Earnie Stewart were elected to the 2011 National Soccer Hall of Fame. Announced earlier today by U.S. Soccer, Pope earned a spot on 74 percent of the ballots and Stewart on 71 percent of the ballots.
In response to Pope's announcement, D.

Nick Schmitt (West Plains), Bob Gansler (KC Wizards), Jon Leamey (Missouri State) 2006

COBI JONES, EDDIE POPE AND EARNIE STEWART ELECTED TO NATIONAL SOCCER HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2011

Bruce Murray Elected on the Veteran Ballot Bob Gansler Elected on the Builder Ballot

CHICAGO (March 29, 2011) – Cobi Jones, the U.

STARTERS
Happy Birthday to newly minted USA international Timmy Chandler.
dN
Are you ready?
-Sat Apr 2
AC Milan v Inter Milan - 1:45pm CT on FSC
-Come join me at the Sweetwater to watch this humdinger.
dN
The United States National Soccer Hall of Fame announced today that the new inductees are Cobi Jones, Eddie Pope, Earnie Stewart, Bruce Murray & Bob Gansler.

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Longevity and productivity are two themes that can be used to describe the careers of the players inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame this year.

Cobi Jones, Eddie Pope and Earnie Stewart will be the latest to be enshrined in the hall in a ceremony this summer, U.

With Bob Gansler and Bruce Murray also making the cut, this stands as a monster year to get in - those two, Cobi Jones, Eddie Pope and Earnie Stewart.What a class class!- Greg Seltzer

The National Soccer Hall of Fame Class of 2011 has been announced and all five inductees have ties to the US National Team. Cobi Jones, Eddie Pope, and Earnie Stewart were elected from the general ballot. Former US National Team player Bruce Murray joins them from the Veteran ballot. Former US National Team coach Bob Gansler was elected as a Builder.

The Soccer Hall of Fame may be trapped in the Phantom Zone, but that doesn't mean there aren't players to enshrine. So, let's look at this year's ballot!
...wait. Can you? You sure can't here. No, this site hasn't worked for a dog's age.
Oh, okay, the Fed has the list.

Yesterday the official ballot for the National Soccer Hall of Fame Class of 2011 was announced, and United States soccer fans will surely be pleased with the candidates. The pool of possible Hall of Famers is full of talented players who plied their trade both domestically in Major League Soccer as well as those pioneers that paved the way for fellow Americans overseas.

SEATTLE, WA Finalists for the National Soccer Hall of Fame Class of 2011 were announced Thursday by U.S. Soccer. Voting has already begun and continues through March 11. The results will be announced in a few months. Here are the voting rules for the player category as detailed in the USSF press release: The [.

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Cobi Jones, Eddie Pope and Jason Kreis highlight a strong group of first-timers among the nominees on the 2011 U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame ballot, which was released Thursday afternoon.

Jones, the United States' all-time leader in caps with 164, played in three World Cups and was one of the most recognizable and distinguished players of his era.