First of all, go vote for the AT&T Goal of the Year and Degree Men Save of the Year awards. Both Arnaud and Lopez are up twice for the Goal of the Year honor and Hartman is up three times for the Save of the Year award. You can find links to the highlights of these plays at previous posts below. Click to continue reading...

Charlie Davies seems to be recovering well after undergoing additional surgeries to repair a broken left elbow and stabilize facial fractures earlier this week. He sat up in bed and took his first steps. His rehabilitation has begun and could take 6 months to a year.

Gooch underwent surgery to repair his patellar tendon this Wednesday.

Click to continue reading...

Oguchi Onyewu will have surgery Wednesday to repair a ruptured patellar (patella- knee cap) tendon in his left knee, an injury sustained during last week's World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica.

The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS) says that a force of 17.5 times the body weight is required to rupture the patellar tendon in a healthy individual.

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The 2-0 first-half deficit made it seem unlikely, but the US were able to battle back to match points with Mexico, and therefore, win the group. Well done, boys! Here are some thoughts from the game:

-It was great to see the US create so many chances. You'd like to see us finish more of those (obviously), but on another day, it could have easily been 5-2.

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Lando, Bobby Blue Eyes, Gooch and Timbo talk about where their heads are at pre-Costa Rica match. This was obviously taped before news of Charlie Davies unfortunate accident so their minds --and all of our minds-- might be in a different place right now. My most sincere thoughts & prayers go out to Charlie's family & friends; feel free to pray to the God of your choice for his healthy, speedy recovery. Click to continue reading...

For those of you wondering when you would see the rest of the September Q&A questions answered, here is the newest installment of Your Questions Answered.

This batch of questions is dominated by U.S. national team questions, with Oguchi Onyewu, Michael Bradley and Jermaine Jones among the subjects covered.

Click to continue reading...

For those of you wondering when you would see the rest of the September Q&A questions answered, here is the newest installment of Your Questions Answered.

This batch of questions is dominated by U.S. national team questions, with Oguchi Onyewu, Michael Bradley and Jermaine Jones among the subjects covered.

Click to continue reading...

ESPN's The Body Issue is out on Friday, and it features AC Milan's Oguchi Onyewu better known as "Gooch" completely naked.

Well, except for a little body oil.

He's shy like that.

The DC United boys also got their naked photo session on they decided to showcase their wall-making skills for the shoot.

Click to continue reading...

ESPN's The Body Issue is out on Friday, and it features AC Milan's Oguchi Onyewu better known as "Gooch" completely naked.

Well, except for a little body oil.

He's shy like that.

The DC United boys also got their naked photo session on they decided to showcase their wall-making skills for the shoot.

Click to continue reading...

Eddie Johnson is getting playing time in Europe and Gooch is on the bench? First the Fat Boys break up now this? There just ain't nothin' you can believe in anymore. Click to continue reading...

Match Officials announced for Tuesday's match against Hartlepool Utd

Mr. Chris Sarginson, will be the man in charge at Edgeley park on Tuesday Night.

Sarginson was a Select Group Assistant Referee in 2005 and in the same year was appointed AR in FA Challenge Vase Final, the Football League Play-Off Final and a UEFA Cup Tie.

Click to continue reading...

Janusz and some British man discussing the most recent exploits of the U.S. men's national team members and other Americans outsourced to Europe. Janusz mentions twice that he thinks that Deuce puts in his best performances for his club instead of his country. Hunh.
He also mentions Eddie Johnson. Click to continue reading...

If you saw Cornell Glen's miss and Rico's wonder strike, you saw the game. In fact, I'm jealous of you if that's all you saw.
Nevertheless, yesterday was as good a day to be an American as it was a lousy day to be Argentine or Northern Irish.* Bottom-lining it, the very worst case scenario is needing a draw at home to Costa Rica to go directly to South Africa. Click to continue reading...

After what was a very successful summer, the MNT is back for two important WCQ. I wanted to talk about the starting XI I would like to see for the qualifiers. It features Tim Howard in goal, a standout for Everton and the USMNT alike for some time now. Howard is a legend, and has to be one of the top 5 keepers in the world, his selection is a no-doubter. Click to continue reading...

Janusz and one of those guys with a British accent talk Jozy's debut, Charlie Davies and Gooch's place in the defensive pecking order at AC Milan. Watch it with someone you love...like Jack Daniels. Click to continue reading...

That's how ESPN's Bob Ley put it after Mexico's 2-1 win over the United States in a World Cup qualifier Wednesday at Azteca Stadium.
Here's are some of my thoughts:

• Charlie Davies is now the best forward on the USMNT. He was everywhere and scored a great opener. Brian Ching/Jozy Altidore/Clint Dempsey were invisible up front.

Click to continue reading...

If it were up to Anheuser-Busch's Bud Light division -- department: Lime, specifically -- my summer wouldn't qualify as having even started yet, despite the calendar now reading August/Agosto. (I haven't brought one out, sadly. I'm presuming I won't by autumn, either, by which I'll have then denied myself a summer, which may or may not retard the space-time continuum. Click to continue reading...

Milan fans must face the stark reality of their upcoming 2009-10 campaign.Despite the infusion of five youngsters in the last 30 minutes of last evening Club America game the Rossoneri look old and tired and we are not even in August. Their is an abundance of age and wisdom but no pace.Both collectively or even from Bippo Inzaghi who still beats people in open space on what i call fear speed. Click to continue reading...

Americans Abroad / USMNT
Feilhaber Delivers Assist In Aarhus Season-Opener - Soccer By Ives
Who Should The USA Start vs. Honduras - Soccer By Ives
Audio: Bob Speak - The MNT Blog
The US Squad Coming Into Focus - SI.com
USA-Mexico: English SAP Available On Telemundo Broadcast - Match Fit USA
Benvenuto Signor Gooch - No Short Corners
Hort Moves On To Bigger Role - Soccer365
Chicago Fire
Chivas USA
Colorado Rapids
Kosuke Takes Time To Give Back - Undercurrent
Columbus Crew
Tashjian To Everton - Covering The Crew
DC United
A Few Minutes With Dejan Jakovic - Soccer Insider
United Advances, At A Steep Price - Washington Post
USOC Semifinal: DCU 2 - 1 Rochester Rhinos - Behind The Badge
Photos: Meet The Team Day - Behind The Badge
FC Dallas
Lambo And Wallace Recalled To U20's - 3rd Degree
Tuesday's Quick Hits - The FCD Blog
Bryan Leyva Heading Overseas? Click to continue reading...

We'll start with Chelsea today, in honor of the Blues coming to Seattle for a friendly with our beloved Sounders FC:

• John Mikel Obi signs 5-year extension with Chelsea.
  
• Blues also claim interest in 'big target.'
  
• Barca GK Valdes re-signs.
  
• Felipe Melo to Juventus?

Click to continue reading...

The good news?
Gooch is going to AC Milan. I'm stoked and so are his national team teammates.

"It's a big sign," U.S. National Team striker Charlie Davies said. "Gooch signing with AC Milan opens a lot of doors for Americans and makes a lot of clubs realize that Americans can play.

Click to continue reading...

Butler-like, with my black coat and my serious frown so perfectly in tune that a violin bow drawn across my body would play "In the Hall of the Mountain King," and a gong mallet struck against my head would play David Brooks's latest column from the Times, I direct your attention to the following items of note:

The Run of Play is now on Twitter.

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With all respect to DaMarcus Beasley's spell at PSV, Claudio Reyna at Rangers and, erm, Cobi Jones at Coventry City, Oguchi Onyewu signing for Milan is arguably the most high profile move by an American soccer player, ever. I'm not counting Tim Howard's move to Man Utd, because Howard is a goalkeeper and the world already [. Click to continue reading...

Americans Abroad / USMNT
US Earns Respect Of Soccer Powers - Florida Today
US Readies For Sterner Test - Boston Herald
Bob Bradley And Players Discuss Upcoming Game Against Honduras - The MNT Blog
Opportunity Knocks For US Players At Gold Cup - Washington Post
Robert Kraft Joins US World Cup Bid Committee - Revolution official site
Kraft Joins US World Cup Bid Committee - MLSnet
Kraft Joins Efforts To Bring World Cup Tourney To US - Boston Globe
Onyewu Signs With AC Milan - Soccer By Ives
Onyewu First US Player Signed By AC Milan - Associated Press
'Gooch' Makes Historic Move For US Soccer - Sports Network
Onyewu Joins AC Milan - Goal (NY Times)
Onyewu Signs With Rossoneri - Yanks Abroad
US Defender Onyewu On To AC Milan - MLSnet
Onyewu Signing Brings More Attention To US Players - Soccer365
Oguchi Inked By AC Milan; Talk About Jackpot - Soccer y Futbol
Video: Alexi On Oguchi Onyewu To AC Milan - ESPNsoccernet
Onyewu To Milan - Soccer Insider
Onyewu Signs Contract With AC Milan - MLS Daily
Gooch Signs With Milan: Reaction - MLS Talk
Into The Milan Frying Pan - No Short Corners
Milan Sign Onyewu - ESPNsoccernet
Oguchi Onyewu To AC Milan - Extra Time (NY Post)
Inter Wanted AC Milan Signing Onyewu - Goal. Click to continue reading...

Obviously I'm late on the draw with this one but I was at the wild animal park with my son this morning; for the record he was down with the elephants but totally freaked out by the giraffe face peering into the sunroof window. Being as tall as a giraffe and as big as an elephant, the jury is out on how he feels about Gooch. Click to continue reading...

I didn't see it coming. Â Milan kept quiet this whole time, but sprung up to sign the 27 year old when it counted. Â Oguchi Onyewu joins Milan on a Bosman Free-Transfer. Â Read on...

This move is simply fantastic. Â Gooch was looking for a high level league where he would be challenged day in and day out, and be able to compete for trophies.

Click to continue reading...

• RT @TIAS Gooch joins AC Milan on 3-year contract: http://ow.ly/gFiZ in reply to TIAS #

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• RT @TIAS Gooch joins AC Milan on 3-year contract: http://ow.ly/gFiZ in reply to TIAS #

Click to continue reading...

An official statement from Milan confirmed the news that Gooch is on his way to Italy: "AC Milan announces the signing on a permanent deal of defender Oguchi Onyewu from Standard Liege. The player has signed a contract with...

Click to continue reading...

Oguchi Onyewu signing for AC Milan is a great thing, isn't it? Never mind Alexi Lalas' stint at makeweights Padova; Gooch is the first Yank at a Serie A giant and one of the world's elite. A three-year deal expiring at the end of June 2012 is good news all round. I've seen a salary of $1.1million a year reported but don't quote me on that. Click to continue reading...

Oguchi Onyewu will become the first U.S. player to ply his trade in Italy's Serie A since Alexi Lalas in the mid-1990s. AC Milan today announced it had signed Onyewu to a three-year contract. "Gooch" joins the rossoneri on a free transfer after his contract with Belgium's Standard Liege expired at the end of last season. Click to continue reading...

After much speculation and interest from over a dozen clubs, US and Standard Liege defender Oguchi Onyewu has just signed a 3-year deal to join AC Milan. He will be the first American to play in Serie A since Alexis Lalas played for Padova from 1994-1996.
Gooch's move to Milan makes much sense when one considers that the Rossaneri's ageing back line was overdue for renewal, especially given the retirement of longtime great Paolo Maldini. Click to continue reading...

I'm giddy with excitement. Â Gooch, to the club that produces players of the highest quality. Â I could go on for hours stating the fantastic players that have come out of that club, but I'll spare you. Â Read on...Oguchi Onyewu showed why he is such a great player at the Confederations Cup, and Ajax's reported interest is a fitting reward for a great tournament.

Click to continue reading...

In addition to the teams we last mentioned in pursuit of US defender Oguchi Onyewu, a few more have joined the pack. Perennial Dutch power Ajax are said to be interested in Gooch, as well and the French media are now seeing renewed interest from PSG and Marseille. There are also reports out of Belgium that he "is not closing the door on a longer stay at Standard" yet either. Click to continue reading...

Did we actually beat Spain yesterday or was it merely a flu and fever induced hallucination I suffered while shivering despite 90 degree temperatures outside?
We did beat Spain? I actually watched it?
Wow.
Double wow.
Holy ********ing shit wow!
So where on earth does that leave the US now? Click to continue reading...