1. MAKING PLANS
LAFC confirmed their plans to build a new stadium in time to begin play in 2018, unveiling a gorgous set of renderings – a "cathedral to soccer," according to Henry Nguyen – and getting started on finalizing the club's identity and academy. What does the news mean for fellow expansion team Minnesota United and the rest of MLS ? LA Galaxy president Chris Klein says he and his colleagues aren’t fazed by the new club’s plans, or by any other team for that matter.
2. MAGIC MOMENTS
One club the Galaxy might want to be concerned about is Orlando City, who thumped the defending champions 4-0 on Sunday. But fair play to the losing team for their tongue-in-cheek “highlight” video from the weekend. Kaka was phenomenal for the Lions and, in all the excitement, you may have missed his tribute to injured teammate Kevin Molino.
3. DOYLE READY TO DEBUT
The Colorado Rapids officially unveiled Kevin Doyle as their newest Designated Player on Monday. The Irish striker spoke about why he decided to join the team, and could even get some playing time as early as this weekend when the Vancouver Whitecaps visit Dick's Sporting Goods Park (Saturday, 9 pm ET; TSN2 in Canada, MLS LIVE in the US). The club will no doubt hope he can be the solution to their scoring problems.
4. SHORE LEAVE
The Rapids backline may have received an additional boost as well, after the US Navy cleared Colorado's 2015 SuperDraft selection Joseph Greenspan to play for the club for the remainder of this season.
5. UNITED MIDFIELD GETS DEEPER
D.C. United also unveiled a new player on Monday, securing the services of free-agent midfielder Facundo Coria. The 27-year-old Argentine trialled with the Philadelphia Union earlier this season to no avail, but United view their new signing as “another quality attacking option.”
6. MLS INS AND OUTS
Amid the latest signings and unveilings, could FC Dallas be looking to bring in a new addition of their own when the secondary transfer window opens on July 8? One player who won’t be coming to MLS, not at the moment at least, is Will Packwood. The New England Revolution revealed on Monday that they would not be pursuing their interest in the defender.
7. RANKING THE BEST IN MLS
The website American Soccer Analysis has compiled an exhaustively detailed ranking of the top 50 players in MLS. Who do you think finished atop the heap?
8. YURA INTERESTED IN MLS RETURN
Yura Movsisyan spent two-and-a-half seasons in MLS playing with Real Salt Lake before moving on to success in Europe. According to his agent, the Armenian international, who is currently with Spartak Moscow in the Russian Premier League, would be very interested in a return to North America.
9. UNION MAKE A CHANGE
The Philadelphia Union finally grabbed just their second win of the season at the weekend.While Maurice Edu has risen to the demanding task of captaining the side through the tough stretch, the club announced the impending departure of technical consultant Rene Meulensteen.
10. MAGEE IS (ALMOST) BACK
There’s good news for Chicago Fire fans, as Mike Magee’s prolonged injury absence could be coming to an end. The 2013 MLS MVP returned to full training on Monday and head coach Frank Yallop believes Magee could make his return against the Montreal Impact in a couple of weeks.
11. KONOPKA MAKES HIS CASE
Joe Bendik was Toronto FC’s first-choice goalkeeper at the start of the season. But with Bendik sidelined by a foot injury, backup ‘keeper Chris Konopka has grabbed the opportunity to impress with both hands and left head coach Greg Vanney admitting he faces a difficult decision when both are fit.
12. OUIMETTE’S INCREASING IMPORTANCE
Amid injuries, suspensions and international call-ups, Karl Ouimette has suddenly found himself a starter for the New York Red Bulls. The Canadian is certainly making a good case to retain one of the Red Bulls' center-back spots for the long term. Meanwhile, it seems that RBNY winger Sal Zizzo’s injury may not be as bad as first feared.
13. THOMPSON ON BREAKING IN
Tommy Thompson has become one of the most promising, and most hyped, young players in the US national team picture. The San Jose Earthquakes' attacking player is set for a starting role with the US squad currently preparing for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand, but explains why he’s found it slightly harder to break into the Quakes starting lineup.
14. LOOKING BEYOND ZELALEM
With Arsenal’s Gedion Zelalem now committed to playing for the US at international level, his club manager Arsene Wenger believes it will be a good fit for both the player and the USMNT. Zelalam’s first stop will be the U20 World Cup, but there’s more to the US youth scene than just one talented midfielder.
15. THE WORLD OF FIFA
Changes could be afoot for World Cup qualifying, as FIFA is reportedly considering stripping CONMEBOL of their World Cup playoff berth following what the governing body considers an insufficient punishment handed out to Boca Juniors following the chaotic fan violence during last week's Copa Libertadores match against fierce rivals River Plate. It also seems Sepp Blatter favors a change in the World Cup bidding rules.
MLSsoccer.com Musts
Was it a PK on Kaka? Instant Replay revisits the Orlando debate
ExtraTime Radio: “Swagudelo” on fatherhood, World Cup regret and rampant Revs
Team of the Week: Who made the cut in unpredictable Week 11?
Δεν υπάρχουν σχόλια:
Δημοσίευση σχολίου