Let's dip into the playoff poll again, this time with one of the fallen favorites. We corralled Houston radio man Brian Zygo to tackle our Dynamo answers.NSC: What went wrong?BZ: In simple terms, a lack a finishing, the Houston Dynamo were having trouble putting the ball in the net. It took over 180 minutes of playing time in the first round of the MLS playoffs before the Dynamo scored a goal. Click to continue reading...

National Sports Center Confirms Move to Create New Pro Soccer Team in Minnesota

Last Friday, Inside Minnesota Soccer reported that the National Sports Center (NSC) and the United Soccer Leagues (USL) would announce early this week that the Minnesota Thunder would become the newest USL-1 team replacing the Minnesota Thunder.

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Yeah, we had to do this one sooner or later. And being the Empire Supporters Club die-hard that he is, my former American Soccer Daily co-hort Jason Endres found a way to make the "What went right?" answer as long as the "What went wrong?" answer. But ya know what... that's New Yawk, baby. Now put the Strokes' cut Someday on and read. Click to continue reading...

Today, we continue our series by launching an inquest into our first playoff team, the Revs. How they managed to make the postseason, I'll Nicol know... erm... never know, but luckily we have someone here to make sense of all things Beantown ball. For this one, I pass it over to former American Soccer Daily colleague (and Holy Cross midfielder) Ryan O'Hanlon. Click to continue reading...

It was a difficult year for the Bay Area boot squad, but an easy choice on who to ask for some answers. Sorting through the Earthquakes rubble for us is ESPN & Center Line Soccer all-star Jeff Carlisle.NSC: What went wrong?JC: Just about everything. Players like Francisco Lima and Scott Sealy werent adequately replaced at the start of the season. Click to continue reading...

The ball from the infamous Tottenham-Liverpool match earlier in the year was sold online.
400 pounds to charity. Good stuff.
Did you buy it?
To the links:

• Poor form in selecting your team Bob. [NSC]
  
• Maradona banned for two months. [Reuters]
  
• Happy birthday to a blog bud.

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And by MLS Best XI's, plural, I mean the official league edition and Du Nord's three-layer extravaganza.How much do I agree with these lists? I guess you'll have to wait until I unveil my team of the season over at S365 later in the week.- Greg Seltzer Click to continue reading...

Another international has shockingly been lost. Former MLS target Antonio De Nigris, who was playing with Greek side Larissa, has died of a heart attack at the age of 31.This is hitting the El Tri community hard, as you might imagine. NSC condolences go out to his family, friends, teammates and fans. Click to continue reading...

We move along in our series with the Rapids, who wildly disappointed fans by slumping down the stretch to miss out on the playoffs thanks to a closing day loss to arch rivals Real Salt Lake - who have added insult to injury by making it to MLS Cup. Yeesh. For this autopsy/look ahead, we turn to Class VI Grand Poobah Mark Bodmer. Click to continue reading...

A few NSC programming notes: there will be no Who likes goals? today, there will be a U.S. v Denmark LIVE post on Wednesday and I will name my own MLS Best XI at S365 later in the week. And now, your Monday morning croissants, juice and papers...#1 - The World Cup finals field for South Africa is now at 26, with Cameroon capping their glorious table comeback with a 2-0 closing day win (as Click to continue reading...

Inside Minnesota Soccer learned this evening from several reliable sources who both wished to remain anonymous, that there will be a USL-1 First division team playing in Minnesota in the summer of 2010.

One source close to the Team Owners Association (TOA) and United Soccer League (USL) impasse did not want to expound on who the owners of the team would be but did indicate that it would not be the current ownership group of the Thunder.

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Inside Minnesota Soccer learned this evening from several reliable sources who both wished to remain anonymous, that there will be a USL-1 First division team playing in Minnesota in the summer of 2010.

One source close to the Team Owners Association (TOA) and United Soccer League (USL) impasse did not want to expound on who the owners of the team would be but did indicate that it would not be the current ownership group of the Thunder.

Click to continue reading...

When it comes to the Premier League, the arguments could go on all night. The debate could turn ugly. The question even secretly burns in the mind of true believers.Which English top flight club has the most cumulative cool in the way of celebrity supporters?The four of us went off to research five clubs each, then came back with the data, made our individual tables and then averaged them out. Click to continue reading...

Later today, I will have that 'fun Premier League post' that I promised was coming a few weeks back. Sean and I put it together with a couple of NSC pals. Took a little longer than expected, but it's ready now...#1 - I've posted my Q&A with USMNT/IK Start defender Clarence Goodson, who I had somehow had never interviewed before last week. Click to continue reading...

I've lifted the F-bomb ban on Cut of the Day because it's Friday and I wanna...#1 - In the aftermath of last night's Real Salt Lake upset of the champs, James Edward pops the surprise cork and Shawn Mitchell does the Crew autopsy.#2 - After another loss to Benfica at home last night, Everton keeper Tim Howard knows his side is in a real scrap for the Europa League knockouts. Click to continue reading...

U.S. Soccer is inviting nominations for four "Best of 2009" categories, including (ahem) Best Soccer Blog, until November 20th.As they say, a nod's as good as a wink to a blind bat. Eh, eh?- Greg Seltzer Click to continue reading...

I thought this deserved its own post. The full MLS awards list and announcement schedule is in the article, listed below are the glamour prizes, with my balloted winner marked by an asterisk:Goalkeeper of the Year FinalistsKasey Keller – Seattle Sounders FCDonovan Ricketts – Los Angeles Galaxy*Zach Thornton – Chivas USAComeback Player of the Year FinalistsBrian McBride – Chicago FireBen Olsen – Click to continue reading...

NSC reader Jeremy was putting the fright into trick-or-treating Goats fans last night, and sent us the pic to prove it.- Greg Seltzer Click to continue reading...

Thanks to an NSC reader's diligence (and Spanish), we have a proper video report of ambitious Aston Villa keeper Brad Guzan's lights out display on Wednesday night. I thought it deserved it's own post.- Greg Seltzer Click to continue reading...

Tonight on 30 Rock, Liz and jack visit Kenneth's hometown. Oh my, this should be good...#1 - Via Columbus Dispatch all-star Shawn Mitchell, Crew defender Chad Marshall has been suddenly upgraded all the way to probable. Meanwhile, Real Salt Lake have picked up a few small knocks here and there.An upset course diverted? Click to continue reading...

Well, folks, the road to MLS Cup has now been fully paved. Here are your first round two-leg match-ups, the underdogs host first:Columbus v Real Salt LakeLos Angeles v Chivas USAHouston v SeattleChicago v New EnglandThe fun starts Thursday night at the same building where the road ends, Qwest Field.I have a pair of MLS season Top 5 Lists in the works, one each for S365 and NSC. Click to continue reading...

Remember when I said how the #1 pick on my Honda ballot so often isn't even a finalist (as was the case this year with Oguchi Onyewu)? Well, my second place choice tends to do far better.For the third year in a row, Landon Donovan has picked up the Honda Player of the Year prize. It was the third time, and second in three years, that he did so with a runners-up nod from me. Click to continue reading...

I have a few things coming, both here and S365... but I'm movin' sloooow, so bear with me.As for here, Who likes goals? will come first and it will come in about an hour.- Greg Seltzer Click to continue reading...

Mighty looooooow. I am under the weather and his brother Vinnie AND his other brother Vinnie. I'll get Who likes goals? up when I can.- Greg Seltzer Click to continue reading...

I think I've found someone who can solve the country's fiscal woes. Just one primary question: are you at all concerned about an uprising?#1 - Get this. Well, maybe sit down first. You aren't ready for it, no matter how tough you think you are. Please table any glass ewers you may be holding. Your knees will wobble. Click to continue reading...

I'm in such a random mood. Why not share?#5 - If I was the manager of France, Greece, Portugal or Russia, which UEFA WCQ playoff Pot B team would I be most hoping to avoid in the draw? Bosnia. Frankly, the trio of Džeko, Misimović and Pjanić would give me nightmares.#4 - Just heard via NSC pal Adam Spangler that an Italian report claims the Azzurri FA will petition to have U. Click to continue reading...

While I slept, US Soccer released a full account of the injuries suffered by Charlie Davies in Tuesday's fatal car accident outside Washington D.C. and his recovery prognosis.For those of you going to the U.S. v Costa Rica game at RFK tonight, the American Outlaws supporters group and Shin Guardian blog are teaming up to construct a get well gesture to Charlie: a 9th minute salute to our #9 shirt Click to continue reading...

I know some folks like to find a little distraction when waiting and worrying takes over. Therefore, I've decided to continue with this bit of regularly scheduled NSC programming.However, my promised S365 column can wait until tomorrow. I was about to publish it when the Davies news got around, and obviously put it to the side. Click to continue reading...

The first confirmed foe? Fellow South Africa travelers Denmark in Aarhus on November 18th.The good news is both Michael Bradley and Benny Feilhaber can give an advanced scouting report on their qualification hero (video link).Obviously, I will hope to be there.- Greg Seltzer Click to continue reading...

Who knew Christian Slater was such a caviar hog? And is it just me or does Larry David look exactly like former Boca Juniors boss Carlos Bianchi? Hmm...#1 - Kicking off some post-clincher coverage: since I haven't seen the first 75 minutes of the game and am losing hope that I will anytime soon, let's throw this USMNT player ratings over to Ridge Mahoney. Click to continue reading...

... that, when considering levels Under-20 and above, the U.S. Men's National Teams have surrendered three penalty kick goals and seen eight men sent off in their last 19 FIFA cup matches?That includes World Cup 2006, the 2007 Under-20 World Cup, the 2008 Summer Olympics, Confederations Cup and the ongoing 2009 Under-20 World Cup. Click to continue reading...

We've had two more teams clinching their place in South Africa today, with the Ivory Coast and Germany nudging the number of qualified up to 13.Die Mannschaft did the deed with a 1-0 tabletop showdown victory at Russia, despite going down a man for the final 25 minutes. Germany will be making their 15th consecutive finals appearance next summer. Click to continue reading...

[Photo: Reuter] Our scheduled Cardinals boasting has been postponed until Game 2. They don't really drop playoff openers, so it's very weird for me. I'm not sure what to do. Never mind, I'm confident Adam will set things Wainwright...#1 - I had no idea someone did an MLS computer ranking! Why didn't someone tell me? Click to continue reading...

As defined by NSC reader Mike, for our purposes, a "dark horse" is basically anyone outside the 23 guys that USMNT coach Bob Bradley would choose if the roster deadline was tomorrow.At this late stage, he my well be right about that. However, it wasn't that long ago that a youngster came seemingly from almost nowhere to win a World Cup place. Click to continue reading...

I have a quick look at how my pre-tourney Under-20 World Cup predictions have done so far, plus my second chance knockout predictions.If you recall, this is what I had for the round of 16 match-ups (correct bracket slot = blue, correct knockout qualifier = green & big fat oops = red):Paraguay over USA (extra time)Ghana over Costa RicaSpain over Korea RepublicCzech Republic over Hungary (extra Click to continue reading...