It's about time, right? We've got ourselves a U.S. National Team writer. Mike Cardillo, who we've been reading for YEARS on his site, "That's On Point", for US preview/reviews and English Premier League musings will be providing some coverage of the Nats as they begin their 2014 World Cup Qualifying campaign.

It started as a soccer game. It ended with a football score.

Former Boston Breakers' striker Amy Rodriguez grabbed a record-tying five goals in the United States' record-setting 14-0 demolition of the Dominican Republic in the first game of Olympic Qualifying at BC Place in Vancouver.

Red Bulls GM Erik Soler says he's about to sign two, if not three "young" Americans with international experience. Before we even think about possible transfers, do realize that quite the crew of U.S. youth prospects are free agents.My first thought was erstwhile Sogndal keeper Joe Bendik - but I can't confirm he's actually spent time with the junior Nats.

This actually happened before Christmas but I haven't gotten a chance to mention it. Baggio Husidic, who's rights the Rapids acquired in the Re-Entry Draft, has decided to decline Colorado's contract offer and instead sign with Hammarby IF in Sweden. Former U.S. Nats player Gregg Berhalter was recently named manager of the AEG-owned club and this will probably be the first of multiple signings from MLS for the team.

Convey Option Offically Declined - Available In Re-Entry Draft

Teams have until December 1st to decide on options, but the San Jose Earthquakes already told Convey he's not coming back. Phase One of the Re-Entry Draft would be at his option number (between 0-10% of his 336k 2011 contract). Phase Two is at any number the acquiring team can negotiate.

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.

It's USMNT game day and we're pumped as always to see what Klinnsmann and the Nats have in store for us, but it's the above retro clip that has us buzzing as well.
Dave Brett (who's based in FBM HQ's city of Austin) collects historic videos of American soccer and he sent us a link to the above clip that he posted to YouTube yesterday.

And another international weekend comes and goes. While no Portland Timbers were involved, yet again, I feel like I should update you guys a bit on the USMNT as well as how our guys did who were with their national teams.

So first, before we get to the players, the US team!

The USMNT played twice this past weekend (and then some) first against Honduras and then against Ecuador.

Y'all remember when Young Jozy signed my pumpkin? That was a fun night replete with Bruce Arena's smirks and tequila shots with Joey Vide. Jozy was just a baby then, hadn't even suited up for the Nats yet if I recall correctly. My how s*** done changed for him (and his former club but that's another topic entirely).

I know it's been a while since we've had a new Lumberyard post up, but we've been fairly busy with travel and a host of matches lately, and it's kind of fallen by the wayside. Regardless, The Lumberyard's back, and with it are a couple of things to talk about this week to tide you over until our Portland Timbers take the field again.

Photo: Paul Rudderow

Winless since their 3-0 road victory over New England on July 17, the Union did just enough to take three points off of a depleted Columbus Crew side before a packed house at PPL Park on Saturday night. Zac MacMath earned his second clean sheet in three attempts and Sebastien Le Toux continued his resurgent goal-scoring form with the game's only goal in the 32nd minute.

All the news that's fit to drink.
And because you'd rather have a beer than be reading all the time... we've taken the day's top news and given it the Reader's Digest-treatment so you can get to that post-work pint quicker.


* Who will Jurgen Klismann's new-look USMNT face on the Tuesday, October 11th open international date?

A German tabloid report claims that Jermaine Jones is not in town simply because he's left to join USMNT camp. I have checked this with the Nats, and he is absolutely not headed to USMNT camp. - Greg Seltzer

Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz

Location: Lincoln Financial Field

Game time: Wednesday, 9:00pm ET

TV: ESPN2

Following the recent appointment of Jurgen Klinsmann as the coach of the US Mens National Team, the focus of US Soccer has turned to Philadelphia, where the Nats will play host to Mexico on Wednesday night in an effort to kick off Klinsmann's US career by turning over a three match losing streak against their arch-rivals.

Frequent contributor Pedro Gomes offers his thoughts leading up to the USA/Mexico friendly:
FIFA will officially categorize August 10th's match between the US and Mexico as a "Friendly" on the international fixture date. But to US Soccer supporters and the players who will get the call-up, it will be nothing of the sort.

Hey look, its another generation of youth captivated by a women's team. I'm sure that won't pay dividends for the future of American soccer...The word "destiny" got thrown around pretty casually in the run up to this Women's World Cup Final. Granted it was by a lot of media types looking to make Sunday's match as hyperbolic as possible; most American soccer fans held back only hoping for the best while fearing the worst (hey it's in our nature).

The starting left center back for the Rapids All-Time Team is Pablo Mastroeni.
How Acquired: First pick in 2002 Allocation draft from the contracted Miami Fusion.
Years In Colorado: 2002 through current day
How Departed: Still with the team
Next to Balboa, this was the easiest pick on the team.

The P2010 Index is a ranking system based on player ratings assigned by some of the country's top soccer sites and journalist. These ratings are then weighted by strength of opponent, match significance, venue, and recent form. (It's all explained here.)

Gold Cup 2011 had its ups and downs for the USMNT, and, unfortunately, it ended on the latter.

Like many of you, I've been reading a lot about Saturday's Gold Cup final. Meaning, I've been reading a lot of complaining. I'm on board with most of it. The Nats have looked uninspired since the World Cup, and it's getting pretty frustrating. But I've come across a lot of writers focusing on where the final was staged, and I really don't understand what the problem is.

Yesterday I devoted my writing time on this site entirely to the Portland Timbers. My daily traffic noticeably suffered for it, but I stand by that this is, above all else,a blog for and about the Timbers, questionable performances and all. Today, however, there doesn't seem to be any Portland Timbers news to write about, hence, a Gold Cup review.

The P2010 Index is a ranking system based on player ratings assigned by some of the country's top soccer sites and journalist. These ratings are then weighted by strength of opponent, match significance, venue, and recent form. (It's all explained here.) In this post we are simply looking at the average (unweighted) ratings from the Gold Cup quarter-final match vs.

We are going to cover a lot of ground in a short time, so buckle up...Let's start with the U-17 fellas, who only opened World Cup play in Mexico last night by smashing the Czech Republic. I'll just go ahead and consider this a measure of 2006 retaliation.Let's now check the chatter on last night's Gold Cup quarterfinal win over a considerably less-than-irie Jamaica.

Before we get to our weekly attendance roundup, here a couple of business related stories from the weekend that was. We'll start with popular radio program World Football Daily, where I was invited to chat with the hosts for 25 minutes on Friday about the business of the American game. This was my third time on the program and it is always fun.

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.

On this date 197 years ago the British successfully attacked Fort Oswego, stealing supplies before withdrawing the next day. Tomorrow the British-led Rapids will attempt to successfully attack the Revolution in their fort of Gillette Stadium and will hope to steal 3 points. This will be Colorado's third game this week, and the lineup is still depleted by injury.

Weeks ago, the Vancouver Whitecaps were a prospect. A strong one, and one with promise, but still only a prospect. As a newcomer to MLS they had yet to play any real games, and had barely broken in their temporary home of Empire Field. They were an expansion team, and could really only be expected to preform at the level of one.

It's time for riffing.#5 - The 'Nats are beginning to become a real nuisance to the big boys.Since the last Argentina meetings in 2008, the USMNT has played a total of nine matches against a group or world powers listing the Albiceleste, Brazil, England, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain - the two CONMEBOL monsters and four Euro-beasts.

It is hard to imagine things more soul-sucking than a week that is dedicated to international fixtures. The domestic leagues are reaching a boiling point and all the excitement is killed by these FIFA dates for friendlies and Euro qualifiers.
For example, the English media are so devoid of interesting topics they are harping on the fact Gareth Bale may miss the upcoming Wales v.

I know UK reports have already proclaimed that injured Nottingham Forest striker Robbie "Hood" Findley will miss three months.... but the club told me such reports are premature. Here is the official word.Also, this week's Postcard from Europe is up to discuss the four 'Nats that sealed important loan moves yesterday.

The team reported to Commerce City yesterday for the official start of pre-season. The first few days are physicals and fitness tests, including concussion tests. They'll hit the fields for the first time on Thursday.
The Rapids open camp with a 23 man roster and 4 draft picks. Rosters this year are 30 players, but there are restrictions on the salaries and availability of spots 21-30.

1. The January Camp friendlies rarely provide the most exciting matches normally our MLS-ers against a decent country's domestic-leaguers but they do provide a glimpse at our youth (most players on our roster are under 25). For a lucky few, it can even propel them into the first-team conversation.

United States Women's National Team coach Pia Sundhage released the roster of 23 players that will travel to China for the Four Nations Tournament at the end of the month.
The U.S. has not participated in this tournament since 2007, but is looking to add to its record six Four Nations titles.