Archive: November 04, 2007 - November 10, 2007
Weekend Discussion
Houston-Kansas City? English league? Other Euro action? Upcoming national team matches? This is the place for lively discussion this weekend. Open forum -- woohoo! Enjoy........
By Steve Goff | November 10, 2007; 11:55 AM ET | Comments (80)
United Roster Analysis
The expansion draft is fast approaching, the college draft is two months away and decisions must be made about contract options. Trades are surely brewing and international signings seem certain. So where does the current corps of D.C. United players stand? Players are given one of four labels: Job Is...
By Steve Goff | November 9, 2007; 12:06 PM ET | Comments (112)
USA Roster Announced
Here are your first 17 players for the South Africa friendly next Saturday in Johannesburg. Up to four more will be added over the weekend. GOALKEEPERS: Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Tim Howard (Everton FC) DEFENDERS: Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham FC), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Dan Califf (Aalborg...
By Steve Goff | November 9, 2007; 10:44 AM ET | Comments (59)
Friday Offerings
I'll have a D.C. United roster analysis for you soon. But for now... *Twellman's spectacular goal available for viewing here... *Jaime Moreno is called up... *MLS goal of the year candidates narrowed to five... *Terps aim to extend unbeaten streak to 10....
By Steve Goff | November 9, 2007; 9:22 AM ET | Comments (37)
Eastern Final: Fire at Revolution
For those watching the match, please share your in-game and postgame thoughts here....
By Steve Goff | November 8, 2007; 7:06 PM ET | Comments (59)
8 Goals, 1 Awful Tackle
Liverpool routs Besiktas: Celtic Wins (nasty tackle near end of video):...
By Steve Goff | November 8, 2007; 2:33 PM ET | Comments (16)
South Africa Awaits
The U.S. Soccer Federation is in the process of finalizing the national team roster for the Nov. 17 friendly at South Africa. An announcement is expected in the next couple days. As many as 21 players will make the trip, with between 13 and 15 from European-based clubs (from what...
By Steve Goff | November 8, 2007; 12:20 PM ET | Comments (61)
Foreign Expertise?
With Ruud Gullit apparently on the way to L.A. to coach the Galaxy, let's take a look at the performance of foreign coaches in MLS. When I say foreign, I mean guys who had little working knowledge of MLS and came to coach. That would exclude, among others, Steve Nicol,...
By Steve Goff | November 8, 2007; 9:15 AM ET | Comments (72)
MLS Honors
Preki was a two-time MLS most valuable player. Now, he's an MLS coach of the year. Maurice Edu won a national championship at the University of Maryland. Now, he's the MLS rookie of the year. Read all about it in the league's press release. Are they the deserving winners? I...
By Steve Goff | November 7, 2007; 11:30 AM ET | Comments (40)
Chat Today, Game Tomorrow
*Join me for a live online chat on washingtonpost.com at 1 p.m. (Eastern) today. Submit your questions by clicking here. *In anticipation of tomorrow night's Eastern Conference final, the Boston Globe offers a Blanco history lesson and the Chicago Tribune looks at some of the Fire's support players. *Check out...
By Steve Goff | November 7, 2007; 8:43 AM ET | Comments (42)
The Road to Beijing Begins In.....
Carson, Tampa and Nashville. CONCACAF has announced the dates and locations for the under-23 men's tournament, which will send two teams to next year's Summer Olympics in China. Group play will take place at Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., and Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. The U.S. team will...
By Steve Goff | November 6, 2007; 12:16 PM ET | Comments (37)
Election Day
Could we possibly surpass yesterday's avalanche of news? Not likely. Let's see what we can round up for ya..... *The full story on Josh Gros's retirement plans. *Kansas City is moving to Kansas for two years to share a field with something called the T-Bones. Seating capacity will be about...
By Steve Goff | November 6, 2007; 10:25 AM ET | Comments (29)
Bermuda Shorts
Keith Tucker, who was fired by Howard University in January after 26 seasons, is in final negotiations to become head coach of Bermuda's national team, sources said today. Tucker is a native of Bermuda who returned to live there this year. Bermuda will enter the early stage of CONCACAF World...
By Steve Goff | November 5, 2007; 4:39 PM ET | Comments (15)
Gros Considers Retirement
D.C. United midfielder Josh Gros, who suffered three head-related injuries this year, is close to retiring from soccer, several sources familiar with the situation said today. Through his agent, Gros indicated he might be able to return at some point. "I am thinking about not coming back next year, but...
By Steve Goff | November 5, 2007; 3:41 PM ET | Comments (80)
This Just In.....
Important D.C. United news coming soon...... Don't turn off that computer! Be back in a bit........
By Steve Goff | November 5, 2007; 3:06 PM ET | Comments (101)
Surgery for Olsen
United midfielder Ben Olsen will have surgery on both ankles Monday in Baltimore to clean up the bone spurs that troubled him all season. Ben tells me he will be relegated to the couch for a couple weeks. "I'll be watching re-runs of Good Times and Wonder Years," he revealed....
By Steve Goff | November 5, 2007; 1:25 PM ET | Comments (69)
Breaking News: Arena Gone
[UPDATED -- It's now official. Jump to the bottom for statements from the club and Arena. Officially, they are saying he 'resigned'] You heard it here first..... Four sources told me this morning that the Red Bulls have decided to make a coaching change and have dismissed Bruce Arena after...
By Steve Goff | November 5, 2007; 11:50 AM ET | Comments (86)
It's Getting Drafty in Here
The final details still must be approved by MLS's competition committee, but it's looking like the expansion draft to provide players for the San Jose Earthquakes will take place Wed., Nov. 21. The ground rules will probably be the same as last year when Toronto was preparing to enter the...
By Steve Goff | November 5, 2007; 8:25 AM ET | Comments (70)
Day of Rest? Ha!
Good Sunday morning. We're going to touch on several topics here. Ready? *On Thursday, I got word that a prominent agent was in D.C. to meet with the United folks. (He apparently stayed at the Four Seasons -- so, yes, he's big.) On Friday, I heard that the gentleman represented...
By Steve Goff | November 4, 2007; 11:44 AM ET | Comments (54)
