By Graig Carbino - ALBANY, NY (Nov 19, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- As someone watching a soccer game from the perspective of "analyst," it would be nice to always come up with spellbinding ideas of what worked and what didn't. We'd all like to have our own unique take on what just happened, why and why not, and all that. Click to continue reading...

By Andrew Dixon - MIAMI, FL (Nov 13, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- Hey you might not have heard, but there's an MLS playoff game on tonight. No, Seriously. Houston Dynamo and the LA Galaxy. Yeah, tonight. ESPN2. 11pm Eastern. I hear that guy David Beckham might even play. Yes, I know. RSL is on the verge of something real special. Click to continue reading...

By Clemente Lisi - NEW YORK, NY (Nov 2, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- With World Cup qualification in the books, the US National Team has the next seven months to prepare for South Africa. Achieving success at the World Cup comes through a combination of hard work and luck. In other words, things have to fall into place at exactly the right time to make the difference between getting bounced in the first round or making. Click to continue reading...

By Andrew Dixon - MIAMI, FL (Oct 29, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- Like it or not, MLS has become parity central. Unless you entered the League courtesy of expansion and you're not named 'Fire' or 'Sounders,' you have a legit shot at winning MLS Cup. No matter how bad you were the previous year or how much winning tradition you have, everyone can go into the start of the season thinking they have a chance at. Click to continue reading...

By Clemente Lisi - EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ (Oct 26th, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- Red Bull NY marked the end of an era – others would argue error – on Saturday night when the team played its last game ever at Giants Stadium. This would have been their final game regardless, with Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ opening for 2010. Click to continue reading...

By Clemente Lisi -- EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ (Oct 26th, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- Giants Stadium has hosted many important international soccer games – from high-caliber friendlies to the 1994 World Cup - over the past 30 years. The legendary stadium has also hosted some very important Men's and Women's National Team games over the past three decades. Click to continue reading...

By L.E. Eisenmenger - BOSTON, MA (Oct 19, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- In August, Major League Soccer ticket sales dipped over 4% overall and dropped double digits up to 34% for six franchises while nationwide sales for international matches skyrocketed. That should be enough of an indication that MLS needs to rethink what marketing to adults means. Click to continue reading...

By Clemente Lisi - NEW YORK, NY (Oct 15, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- In another thrilling CONCACAF matchday, Honduras made it to the 2010 World Cup - joining the US and Mexico - after snagging the final automatic qualifying slot by finishing third in the hexagonal. At the same time, Costa Rica's 2-2 draw against the US in Washington, DC, forced the Ticos into a two-game playoff against Uruguay, who finished fifth in South America after. Click to continue reading...

By Clemente Lisi - NEW YORK, NY (Oct 13, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- With the United States already through to the World Cup, the final Qualifier against Costa Rica has been reduced to a glorified friendly for the Americans. Not for Costa Rica, however, who needs a win in order to snag third-place and an automatic berth to South Africa. Click to continue reading...

By Andrew Dixon -- MIAMI, FL (Oct 9, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- Whenever critics around the world want to minimize the accomplishments of the United States National Team, the one refrain they always come back to is that relative weakness of the CONCACAF region. It's always "The only reason you qualify for so many World Cups is that you play in a weak confederation. Click to continue reading...

By Clemente Lisi - NEW YORK, NY (Oct 8, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- When the United States plays Honduras on Saturday, the team will be facing yet another tough road game in a year that has been full of them. The match in San Pedro Sula is as big as they come. A win for the US and coach Bob Bradley and his staff can book flights to South Africa for next year's World Cup. Click to continue reading...

By L.E. Eisenmenger - BOSTON, MA (Sep 29, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- After the first season success of the Seattle Sounders, the USL-1 2008 Champions Vancouver Whitecaps FC have a hard act to follow as they prepare to enter MLS as a 2011 expansion team. The Vancouver ownership group consists of Greg Kerfoot, Steve Luczo, Jeff Mallett, and Steve Nash. Click to continue reading...

By Andrew Dixon - MIAMI, FL (Sep 28, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- For years, Major League Soccer supporters have been asking ourselves when our league will be on par with some of the great leagues in Europe. We envision the day that MLS is regularly producing World-class players and aspiring stars from all over ply their trade for teams like DC United or the Houston Dynamo. Click to continue reading...

By Andrew Dixon - MIAMI, FL (Sep 17, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- With the roster freeze, it's time for Major League Soccer's contenders to get down to business. Teams who have a shot at the playoffs have made moves to strengthen their squad for the stretch run while others have had to consider depth for multiple competitions. Click to continue reading...

In case you have missed anything, here are some recent links with Chicago pro soccer mention:
WPS expansion draft
• John Howell, Bleacher Report: Red Stars lose two subs to Philadelphia in WPS first expansion draft
• Beau Dure, USA Today: Philly looks strong in WPS expansion draft
• Jeff Kassouf, The Equalizer: Grading the WPS expansion draft
Chicago Fire player development
• L. Click to continue reading...

By Clemente Lisi - NEW YORK, NY (Sep 10, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- In what has turned out to be the most competitive Hexagonal tournament in CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying history, the United States, Mexico and Honduras all took one step closer to stamping their passports for South Africa. Following Wednesday's results, the US (5-1-2) is in first place in the six-team group with 16 points after defeating Trinidad & Tobago 1-0 on the road in. Click to continue reading...

By Clemente Lisi - NEW YORK, NY (Sep 6, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- While the United States edged closer to the 2010 World Cup finals with a 2-1 win over El Salvador, Mexico and Honduras also shook up the Hexagonal standings with victories of their own. Mexico ended Costa Rica's home run at the Monster's Cave and Trinidad & Tobago saw their qualifying hopes severely dented with an away loss to Honduras. Click to continue reading...

Edgar Castillo's switch in registration has been completed and he is now eligible to play for the United States. US Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati made that announcement at halftime of the El Salvador - USA Qualifier. Castillo originally made his intentions to play for the US clear in an exclusive interview with USSoccerPlayers' Brooke Tunstall. Click to continue reading...

By L.E. Eisenmenger - BOSTON, MA (Sep 2, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- In a move towards Major League Soccer developing its own talent, the League now requires clubs to create youth programs. That includes fully subsidized Under-16 and Under-18 Developmental Academy teams for each club. How the individual clubs choose to implement that system is up to them. Click to continue reading...

By L.E. Eisenmenger - BOSTON, MA (Aug 17, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- Over the past four years, several Major League Soccer clubs have gone with technical directors. What that job title means varies by club, bu there are a few things usually held in common. A technical director scouts and works with MLS to sign talent, manage the salary cap, negotiate new contracts with players or their agents, and oversee the academies. Click to continue reading...

By Brooke Tunstall - CHARLOTTE, NC (Jul 29, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- With the Major League Soccer All-Star Game upon us tonight, it seems like an appropriate time to look at the front runners for the league's various individual awards and who would win them if the league gave them out at the All-Star break. Click to continue reading...

By Brooke Tunstall - CHARLOTTE, NC (Jul 25, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- For obvious reasons, the United States National Team's run to the finals of last month's Confederations Cup made headlines around the world. It even captured the attention of the mainstream media that usually has very little time for the sport. Click to continue reading...

The US got the result they needed last night, defeating Honduras 2-0 in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, setting up a trip to the finals against regional rival Mexico.
USSoccerPlayers.com's J Hutcherson summed up last night in a nutshell --
What we saw last night in Chicago was a United States team working their tactics, pushing a plan, and getting the goals to advance. Click to continue reading...

By Brooke Tunstall - CHARLOTTE, NC (Jul 23, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- For Kenny Cooper, there was never any doubt who was going to take the penalty kick. After being dropped at the top of penalty box by an obvious foul during overtime of the US National Team's Gold Cup quarterfinal with Panama last week in Philadelphia, the FC Dallas striker walked to the penalty spot and patiently waited for the referee's whistle. Click to continue reading...

By Andrew Dixon - MIAMI, FL (Jul 22, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- Lost amid the discussion surrounding David Beckham's return to MLS from Europe last week was that United States Under-20 World Cup standout Danny Szetela has made his way back to Major League Soccer. Though I'm sure it's not the ending he wanted when he left Columbus a few years ago, it's certainly not the end of the World. Click to continue reading...

Americans Abroad / USMNT
USA 2 : 1 Panama: A Job Well Done - MLS Talk
Gold Cup: USA 2-Panama 1 - USSoccerPlayers.com
US Wins On Cooper's OT Penalty Kick - MLSnet
US Outlasts Panama In Gold Cup - New York Times
US Guts Out Gold Cup Quarterfinal Win - Extra Time (NY Post)
US Men Move On To Gold Cup Semis With 2-1 Victory Against Panama - USSoccer. Click to continue reading...

Americans Abroad / USMNT
Check Your Local Listings For US-Mexico Qualifier - Goal (NY Times)
USA-Mexico TV Update - Soccer Insider
Davies Tries On His New Shirt - No Short Corners
Video: Kljestan, Bornstein On Confederations Cup And Players To Watch - MLS Rumors
Scouting Report: Panama - USSoccerPlayers. Click to continue reading...

By Graig Carbino - ALBANY, NY (July 17, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- Panama enters their Gold Cup quarterfinal match up with the United States on somewhat of a high. After a disappointing 2-1 reverse in game one against Guadeloupe, Los Canaleros were able to right the ship and get things going with a controversial and hotly contested 1-all draw with regional powerhouse Mexico. Click to continue reading...

By Brooke Tunstall - CHARLOTTE, NC (Jul 16, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- If good things do, in fact, come to those who wait, that might explain the sudden run of good fortune for Kyle Beckerman. So too would hard work and professionalism but patience has been key, too. In his tenth season in Major League Soccer – yes, the kid with the dreads and the boundless energy has played an entire decade in MLS – Beckerman. Click to continue reading...

Americans Abroad / USMNT
Johnson Scores In Fulham Preseason Victory - Soccer By Ives
USA 2- 2 Haiti: Smiles All Around In Turf Debacle - MLS Talk
Holden's Fire Keeps US Soccer Alive In Tie With Haiti - NY Daily News
Holden Rescues US With Late Golazo - Yanks Abroad
US Wins Gold Cup Group B On Late Strike - MLSnet
Holden's Strike Rescues US - MLS Daily
Gold Cup: USA 2 - 2 Haiti - USSoccerPlayers. Click to continue reading...

By Brooke Tunstall - CHARLOTTE, NC (Jul 10, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- For Chad Marshall, it's all about the zero. In his return to the United States National Team after a nearly four-year absence, the big Columbus Crew center back has helped the US to a pair of clean sheets in this year's CONCAF Gold Cup, adding to a rather remarkable string of shutouts while playing for his country. Click to continue reading...

By Clemente Lisi - NEW YORK, NY (Jul 10, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- If there's any doubt whether Robbie Rogers wants to make the decisions on next year's World Cup team complicated for United States coach Bob Bradley, that was put to rest last Saturday when he recorded a goal and two assists in a 4-0 US win over Grenada at the Gold Cup. Click to continue reading...

Americans Abroad / USMNT
Quaranta Goal Rallies USA Past Honduras At RFK - Soccer By Ives
Gold Cup: USA 2 - 0 Honduras - MLS Daily
Quaranta Finds Net, And Finds His Way Back, For U.S. - Washington Post
Quaranta Reaches A Goal - USSoccerPlayers.com
USA 2 - 0 Honduras: Santino's Redemption - MLS Talk
US Keeps Clean Sheet Versus Honduras - MLSnet
US Drop Honduras With Late Strikes - Yanks Abroad
US Stays Together Against Honduras - USSoccerPlayers. Click to continue reading...

Americans Abroad / USMNT
Who Should The USMNT Start vs. Honduras? - Soccer By Ives
Davies Close To Move To Sochaux Of France - SI.com
Four Score - The MNT Blog
Generation Next: American Left Midfielders - Soccer Academics
Unknown Name Tops List Of American Transfer Targets - Goal (NY Times)
Cup Dry Run Pleases Spector - Soccer365
More American Transfer News/Rumors - Match Fit USA
Feilhaber Called In For Honduras Match - Soccer By Ives
Surrounded By Young US Players, Veteran Hopes To Be Noticed - New York Times
Missing In Action: Edu's Wild Ride - SI. Click to continue reading...

By Brooke Tunstall - CHARLOTTE, NC (Jul 2, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- When the United States National Team takes the field for the 2009 Gold Cup it will deal with a challenge that is likely greater than playing a minnow like Grenada, their opponent in Saturday's opening match in Seattle: their history of dominance against CONCACAF teams in the Gold Cup. Click to continue reading...