SoccerBlogs

Another week, another Union bye. Here's the latest recap of the week that was in MLS.

Photo by ISIPhotos.com

By DAN KARELL

It's unlikely that even J.J. Koval expected to be starting this early into the season for the San Jose Earthquakes.

The 21-year-old Stanford product started his second straight match in central midfield for the Earthquakes and played all 90 minutes in the 'Quakes 1-0 victory against Chivas USA.

By DAN KARELL

The 2014 Generation Adidas class grew by three on Wednesday with the signings of Christian Dean, A.J. Cochrane, and Damion Lowe.

The trio of junior defenders take the Generation Adidas class to seven ahead of the 2014 Major League Soccer SuperDraft, joining goalkeeper Andre Blake, defender Eric Miller, midfielder Marlon Hairston, and forward Schillo Tshuma.

Photo by ISIPhotos.com

By IVES GALARCEP

The 2014 Generation adidas class has begun to take shape.

MLS revealed the first four members of the 2014 Generation adidas contracts on Thursday night, announcing the signings of Andre Blake (UConn), Marlon Hairston (Louisville, Eric Miller (Creighton) and Schillo Tshuma (Maryland).

Photo by Ron Chenoy/USA Today Sports

The Colorado Rapids are more than a staunch defense, at least for one night.

Kevin Doyle started the scoring early, but Cubo Torres managed to sneak one in to level the score before half time. Marlon Hairston came alive in the second half and buried a couple easy goals as theRapids saw a rare burst of attacking form.

Flipping the coin at the 5-1 win in 2013
I'd be happy to have another result like that one tomorrow night. Without ex-Sounder Marco Pappa though, that might be asking a lot. Of course Seattle is beat up as well, so it could be an interesting game. Game time tomorrow is 7pm so the tailgate starts at 4.

Rapids trade down from the 11 pick to the 12 pick with the Revs and get the #19 pick, last in the 1st round, as well (and rumored some allocation money).

With the 12th pick they take midfielder Marlon Hairston out of Lousiville. He's a Generation Adidas player so he does not count against the cap and will automatically be protected in next off-season's expansion draft.

Louisville midfielder Marlon Hairston has scored six goals and delivered five assists in 39 games for the Cardinals in two seasons.

After last season's SuperDraft where the Union ended up with Leo Fernandez and a collection of guys who didn't make the squad, it's hard to be overly optimistic about the potential returns even with a pair of picks in the first two rounds, but creativity in the midfield, a left back, target forward to spell Conor Casey and defensive depth would be the areas the Union should look to fill with their eight picks.

The U.S. Men's National Team January Camp has always been about giving new faces a look.

There's even more importance on that this year as the USMNT looks to identity talent and build a core over the next four years to avoid another World Cup failure.

USMNT interim manager Dave Sarachan has called in 10 players for the January camp that have not previously been involved in a national team camp.