Herculez Gomez and Santos Laguna stay on top, Michael Orozco and San Luis continued their slide towards the bottom, and Jose Torres was involved in a thriller with Pachuca.

Photo: Paul Rudderow

"You just ripped the heart out of your squad. And your fan base."

Martin Longman, Union fan, on the Union web site

"Horrible day, horrible decision. All the guy did was give his heart, soul and sweat to this team for two years and this is how you repay him.

A pair of heated English derby match-ups headline today's action, and both will have added subplots that will only make things more intense.

Manchester United and Liverpool clash in their first meeting since the controversial match where Luis Suarez allegedly used racial slurs against Patrice Evra; while London rivals Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers meet for the first time since John Terry allegedly used a racial slur against Anton Ferdinand.

Michael Orozco's stint at the top of the table with San Luis was a short one, as they took an unexpected loss that dropped them down while Club Tijuana and Santos Laguna are now tied at the top

Philadelphia Union

Sky Sports reports that Bolton manager Owen Coyle "claims no decision has been taken as yet regarding a permanent deal" for Sebastien Le Toux.

Jonathan Tannenwald tweets, "A Union source says the team 'would not use Tim Ream as a benchmark' in any negotiations over Le Toux regarding transfer fee.

Michael Orozco, Jose Torres, and Edgar Castillo should all be starting this weekend, while the other Americans down south will hope to get off the bench.

By FRANCO PANIZO

If Brad Guzan retains his spot in Aston Villa's starting lineup this weekend, we are in for a treat.

Guzan and the Villans host Landon Donovan, Tim Howard and Everton on Saturday in arguably the biggest match-up involving Americans this weekend.

In the second week of Clausura play, all the usual suspects will be back in action and everyone but Michael Orozco will be looking to improve on disappointing results from last weekend.

U.A.G. - San Luis 9pm - Galavision As we start the second week of the Clausura season, Michael Orozco's San Luis are coming off a 1-0 home win over UNAM Pumas. U.A.G. lost 3-1 on the road to Toluca. Guadalajara's other team needs to make a break with a subpar Apertura season that had them finishing 16th and losing Herculez Gomez in the offseason.

By Puck Ladies and Gents, welcome back into the Happy Hour. This week has been a series of disappointments for Puck and company. Both Manchester teams uneventfully crashed out of the UEFA Champions League, and Charlie Weis is leaving the Sunshine State to coach the woeful Kansas Jayhawks. Needless to say, many alcoholic libations are [.

Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz

Editor's note: At the end of the 2010 season, we posted a series of season reviews of every Philadelphia Union player. Over the next several weeks PSP continues with a review of the 2011 season.

Jordan Harvey is a Union original. Acquired from Colorado in the 2009 MLS Expansion Draft, Harvey featured in 46 of the Union's 47 matches before being dealt to the Vancouver Whitecaps for allocation money on July 7, 2011.

Yesterday, during the l-o-n-g wait for the announcement of the MLS teams' protected lists, I tweeted that I expected the Philadelphia Union to protect the following players: Faryd Mondragon, Danny Califf, Carlos Valdes, Sheanon Williams, Gabriel Farfan, Sebastien LeToux, Brian Carroll, Roger Torres, Danny Mwanga, Michael Farfan, and Freddy Adu.

(Photo: Nicolae Stoian)

Editor's note: Last year, we posted a series of "Raves" about some of our favorite Philadelphia players. They need not be the team's best players, but they're guys and gals we like. Over the next two weeks, we continue the series again with some of the PSP contributors favorite players of 2011.

1. We will see a starting lineup very similar to the one used against France. The only differences will be Michael Orozco Fiscal for Clarence Goodson (please see prediction #3 vs. France) and DaMarcus Beasley for Danny Williams.

1. Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu, Jermaine Jones, and Kyle Beckerman will hold down the Sorry. Forgot who was coaching. Jurgen Klinsmann (obviously influenced by our latest P2010 Index) cools it on Beckerman and gives the nod to Edu and Bradley in central midfield. The back line will look a bit of a throwback, with Cherundolo,Onyewu, and Bocanegra all starting Timmy Chandler will hold down left back.

1. Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu, Jermaine Jones, and Kyle Beckerman will hold down the Sorry. Forgot who was coaching. Jurgen Klinsmann (obviously influenced by our latest P2010 Index) cools it on Beckerman and gives the nod to Edu and Bradley in central midfield.

The U.S. men's national team returns to action later today in Paris, where the Americans will take on France (2:55pm, ESPN).

Jurgen Klinsmann will look to help the U.S. team post its first win in Europe since March of 2008 (against Poland) by beating a young French team that is expected to field an experimental squad against the United States.

It is that time again everybody. Time for you to get your soccer-related questions ready to send my way in the latest SBI Live Q&A.

We have plenty to talk about today, what with the U.S. national team preparing for two friendlies in Europe, MLS Cup fast approaching and the college season reaching the most important time of the year.

Two sessions down as the U.S. Men's National Team wraps up its first day on the field here in France. In that vein, the theme for today's photos: First Times.
Jermaine Jones takes on U.S. MNT captain Carlos Bocanegra. It's Jermaine's first time in U.S. MNT camp since August.

Speaking of first times, today was Alfredo Morales' first U.

Michael Orozco was the sole victor in the American contingent as the Apertura concluded in a cluster, with only four points separating the top eight teams after 17 games played.

If you had asked people before the English Premier League season which teams would still be unbeaten at the start of November, not many would have said Newcastle, but there the Magpies are, sitting near the top of the table with a zero in the loss column.

Tim Howard and Everton will try to hand Alan Pardew's squad that first loss in the opening match of today's busy schedule of action.

Photo by Perry McIntyre/ISIphotos.com

It happens every time the U.S. national team releases a roster for a friendly or meaningful game. Fans and pundits clamor that a certain player or certain players who didn't make the cut deserved the call-up.

Thursday's roster release for the November friendlies against France and Slovenia was accompanied with a similar reaction.

I find it very odd how Klinsi keeps insisting that his camps allow him to 'explore and evaluate everyone in the national team program' when it's basically always the same guys so far.We have no Sacha Kljestan (for some wholly bizarre reason) and no Michael Parkhurst and again no natural left back to speak of, but Michael Orozco Fiscal remains.

US Soccer took to twitter on Thursday to announce the roster for the November friendlies. The United States travels to Europe to play France on the 11th (3pm ET - ESPN2) and Slovenia on the 15th (noon ET - ESPN2). GK: Bill Hamid (DC United, Tim Howard (Everton) DEF: Carlos Bocanegra (Rangers), Timmy Chandler (Nurnberg), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Alfredo Morales (Hertha Berlin), Michael Orozco (San Luis), Oguchi Onyewu (Sporting) MID: Kyle Beckerman (RSL), Michael.

The final U.S. men's national team matches of 2011 are fast approaching, and with a pair of European road games on the slate, there is a good bet we will see plenty of familiar faces, but hopefully at least a few new faces.

The MLS playoffs could mean that some players don't make the trip across the pond, like Landon Donovan, though U.

DaMarcus Beasley and Puebla defeated Herculez Gomez and Estudiantes in Week 15 action, while Michael Orozco helped San Luis beat Querataro.

Michael Orozco was yellow carded four minutes into San Luis's 2-1 win over Queretaro on a crowded Wednesday schedule in Mexico's Primera Division. Alfredo Moreno scored twice for the home side in the 57th and 72nd minutes before Queretaro pulled a goal back from the penalty spot in the 81st. In a battle of National Teamers, DaMarcus Beasley's Puebla beat Herculez Gomez's U.

Herculez Gomez scored twice to lead Tecos to victory over Santos, DaMarcus Beasley went the full 90 in Puebla's loss to Toluca, while Michael Orozco and Edgar Castillo both failed to see action.

Photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com

By MIKE NASTRI

HARRISON, N.J. -- The U.S. men's national team might have lost to Ecuador on Tuesday night, but there was one overwhelming bright spot for Jurgen Klinsmann and Co.

The U.S. Men's National Team failed to convert a bright start into goals, allowing Ecuador to grab a later winner to beat the U.S. 1-0 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. The loss brings the U.S. record to 1-3-1 under head coach Jurgen Klinsmann with just two goals in five matches.

Ecuador scored the game winner in the 79th minute when Jaime Ayovi beat Tim Ream to a cross from his cousin Walter Ayovi on the left flank after a short throw-in.

Another day of international duty for Sporting KC players today. Four players had national team duty today, three of them started. The one to not start, didn't even appear for his country, as Teal Bunbury didn't make the bench again for the United States in their 1-0 loss to Ecuador tonight in New York.

Pre-Game:
The Lineup for the U.S. Men's National Team features one change from the team that beat Honduras on Staurday. Oguchi Onyewu replaces Michael Orozco Fiscal.
1-Tim Howard, 2-Steve Cherundolo, 4-Oguchi Onyewu, 5-Carlos Bocanegra (capt.), 3-Timmy Chandler; 6-Kyle Beckerman; 7-Danny Williams, 8-Maurice Edu, 11-Brek Shea; 10-Clint Dempsey, 9-Jozy Altidore
Subs: 12-Nick Rimando, 13-Jonathan Spector, 14-Tim Ream, 15-Michael Bradley, 16-DaMarcus Beasley, 17-Edson Buddle, 18-Juan Agudelo
- Tim Howard and Carlos Bocanegra start their fifth game under Jurgen Klinsmann, the only players to do so.

1. We predicted last time that Gooch and Bradley would start. Clearly, that didn't happen. But with a short turnaround and fair amount of travel, we think it's safe to say Klinsmann will be mixing up the lineup quite a bit tonight. We'll say Gooch, Bradley, and DaMarcus Beasley make the starting eleven.

1. We predicted last time that Gooch and Bradley would start. Clearly, that didn't happen. But with a short turnaround and fair amount of travel, we think it's safe to say Klinsmann will be mixing up the lineup quite a bit tonight. We'll say Gooch, Bradley, and DaMarcus Beasley make the starting eleven.

After each match the contributors to New England Soccer Today will rate the performances of the United States National Team players who made an appearance on a 1 to 10 scale (1 horrendous, 5 average, 10 perfection). This week Sean Donahue contributed ratings for the USA's 1-0 victory over Honduras.

Pre-Game:
- U.S. MNT Starting Lineup:
1-Tim Howard; 2-Steve Cherundolo, 4-Michael Orozco Fiscal, 5-Carlos Bocanegra (capt.), 3-Tim Chandler; 6-Kyle Beckerman; 8-Danny Williams, 7-Maurice Edu, 11-Brek Shea; 10-Clint Dempsey, 9-Jozy Altidore
Subs: 12-Bill Hamid, 13-Jonathan Spector, 14-Oguchi Onyewu, 15-Jeff Larentowicz, 16-DaMarcus Beasley, 17-Michael Bradley, 8-Juan Agudelo
- The U.

Jurgen Klinsmann's appointment as the head coach of the US Mens National Team was met with excitement for many reasons. The stagnating program looked at Klinsmann as a proven winner who could help reestablish the USA as the dominant nation in CONCACAF while helping to build a system to make the Nats more dangerous in international competitions and against European opponents.

The UnionDues is reporting that a source close to the situation told the site that Philadelphia Union midfielder Roger Torres has bought out the remainder of his contract with Colombian club America de Cali. Speculation on the move is that that either the Union are set to sign the 20-year-old to a contract, or a European club may swoop in and take the talented Colombian off to another continent.

By FRANCO PANIZO

The Americans Abroad have made a habit out of scoring goals this season, and this weekend was no different.

Clint Dempsey was one of the players to find the back of the net, scoring the fifth goal in Fulham's 6-0 demolition of Queens Park Rangers.

Philadelphia Union have a very short rest period before Sunday's game vs. Chivas USA, just two days between game days. Not an easy trip.

A preview from CSNPhilly on tomorrow night's road game at Chivas USA.

Chivas needs the win as much as Philly does if it's to make the playoffs.

Stopping Sebastien Le Toux will be key to Chivas USA's hopes, according to MLSSoccer.