http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/ en-us 15 Copyright 2008 Thu, 15 May 2008 15:17:48 -0400 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.36 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss We know that Fred will not be available to start on the left flank for D.C. United at Chivas USA on Saturday night. From all indications, Marc Burch will drop back into defense after playing in midfield against Chicago. Devon McTavish is hurt. Ben Olsen is not returning anytime soon. Rod Dyachenko is not a wing. Domenic Mediate is needed to fortify the backline. So the only realistic alternative for Coach Tom Soehn at Home Depot Center is ... Ryan Cordeiro. He could use Quavas Kirk, but Kirk seems more comfortable on the right side. And then there was this comment from Soehn today about Cordeiro, who is a natural left winger: "The reserve game the other day he was the one guy that I watched who really dedicated himself, worked hard, did all the things we have asked of everybody. So he is making progress in that respect. That http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/05/cordeiros_time.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/05/cordeiros_time.html Thu, 15 May 2008 15:17:48 -0400 Oh, where to begin. Marcelo Gallardo participated in full workouts and seems set to start Saturday night at Chivas USA. "He has looked as good as he's looked all year," teammate Santino Quaranta said. Luciano Emilio, who has a quadriceps strain and sat out a portion of training, declined an interview request. While walking away, he said, "No, I don't play Saturday." Asked about Emilio's status, Coach Tom Soehn said: "He's going. We are just in a situation where we have not been getting enough out of that position and it is time to give someone else a shot." Who? "We haven't decided that yet." However, later during his interview session, when asked to confirm that Emilio is traveling but not starting, Soehn said: "I didn't say that either. You never know. We have a few days before we decide what our lineup is going to be. We're leaving early http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/05/dcus_dizzying_status_report.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/05/dcus_dizzying_status_report.html D.C. United Thu, 15 May 2008 11:54:54 -0400 http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/05/funny_conradwizards_promo.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/05/funny_conradwizards_promo.html MLS Thu, 15 May 2008 09:32:37 -0400 You may have noticed that Peter Nowak included a familiar name -- Josh Gros -- as an assistant coach for his U.S. under-23 national team's trip to France for the Toulon International Tournament, which begins next week. "We didn't talk about it all. It was a complete surprise," Gros told the Insider before boarding the team's transatlantic flight last night in New York. "He just gave me a call a few weeks ago and asked if I would be interested. I was surprised and excited." Gros, as you recall, stepped away from D.C. United and competitive soccer after four seasons at age 25 after suffering a series of concussions and head injuries. He has moved on with his life, joining an engineering firm in McLean, Va. His title is junior engineer and he has made site visits in D.C. and worked on projects in Maryland. His bosses gave him time http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/05/josh_gross_transition.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/05/josh_gross_transition.html D.C. United Thu, 15 May 2008 09:22:22 -0400 *MLS tonight: Real Salt Lake (2-3-2) at Colorado (3-4, first place!), 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2). *The Celtic family loses Tommy Burns. *The transcript from my online chat yesterday. (Ignore the reference to Martin Palermo being from Mexico -- brain freeze.) *Joel Senior, a Howard University sophomore midfielder, was among 25 players called into Jamaica national team training camp this week. *DCU boss Kevin Payne will make an appearance on Comcast SportsNet's "Washington Post Live" today. The show airs from 5-6 p.m. and replays at 11 p.m. Back soon with a Josh Gros update. I'll end this thread with Boca 2, Atlas 2 (Copa Libertadores quarterfinals, first leg): http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/05/morning_kickaround_27.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/05/morning_kickaround_27.html Thu, 15 May 2008 08:59:35 -0400 Insider loyalists have known for some time that RFK Stadium would be the site for the USA-Cuba qualifier in October (assuming both advance next month). Today, the USSF officially announced that game, as well as Toyota Park in suburban Chicago for the USA-Trinidad match in September and Dick's Sporting Goods Park near Denver for the the USA-Guatemala meeting in November. Sept. 10: USA-T&T in Bridgeview, Ill., 8 p.m. ET (ESPN2) Oct. 11: USA-Cuba in Washington, 4 p.m. (ESPN Classic) Nov. 19: USA-Guatemala in Commerce City, Colo., 10 p.m. (ESPN2) All matchups are contingent upon the teams winning their two-game, second-round series in June. Click here for full details. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/05/usa_qualifying_sites_announced.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/05/usa_qualifying_sites_announced.html U.S. men's national team Wed, 14 May 2008 15:48:43 -0400 *From the Kasey Keller podcast on the USSF Web site, this great line about the reaction from Fulham owner Mohamed Al-Fayed when the club avoided relegation last weekend: "He was saying the whole time, 'Keep believing, if you believe you can do it, you can do it.' He was very supportive. His big quote was, 'Cavier and Viagra for everybody!' He's crazy." To listen to the entire podcast, click here. *To watch video highlights of Natasha Kai's hat trick and the USA's 6-0 victory over Canada at Estadio RFK, click here. *CONCACAF has outlined the format for its inaugural Champions League, which begins this summer. Click here for details. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/05/keller_kai_and_concacaf.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/05/keller_kai_and_concacaf.html Wed, 14 May 2008 14:05:56 -0400 Before we get to the TFC stadium issues, let's stay in Canada..... *Former DCUer Nicholas Addlery scored in USL1 Vancouver's 2-1 exhibition victory over David Beckham and the Galaxy before more than 37,000 spectators in Edmonton. *TFC supporters are suggesting a protest during the MLS All-Star Game to express their dissatisfaction with the possibility of BMO Field becoming the home of a Canadian Football League team. This dispatch was passed along to me from a supporters' message board: The Toronto FC Supporter Groups believe it is time we turn our concerns into actions. The possibility of BMO Field losing its SSS label and being shared with the Argos is a very real possibility and something that we are aware that could become a reality. So no longer in our minds is this something that we can forget, dismiss and move on, we need to take actions, and not only during http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/05/toronto_protest_brewing.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/05/toronto_protest_brewing.html Wed, 14 May 2008 07:58:59 -0400 *As your favorite soccer/culture blogger, I was trying to find the right music for D.C. United's back-to-back shutout losses over a recent five-day period. How about "Five Days in May" by Blue Rodeo, the countryish band from Toronto? (DCU does, in fact, play TFC twice next week.) Sometimes the world begins To set you up on your feet again It wipes the tears from your eyes How will you ever know The way that circumstances go Always going to hit you by surprise I know my past You were there In everything I've done You are the one Onward..... *Click here to read my DCU story from the print edition. *Click here to submit questions for today's live online chat and to read the transcript later. The fun begins at 1 p.m. ET. *UEFA Cup final today in Manchester: Glasgow Rangers vs. Zenit St. Petersburg (2:30 p.m. ET, Fox Soccer http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/05/morning_kickaround_26.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/05/morning_kickaround_26.html Wed, 14 May 2008 06:00:10 -0400 Just when you think you've nailed down a juicy item along comes more information. Remember this morning when I told you a German club had been told it would have to pay at least $7 million for Red Bulls forward Jozy Altidore? Now I am hearing that MLS turned down $8 million from Reading in January and is looking for something in the neighborhood of $10 million. The Reading-Altidore connection is not new, but the dollar figures are. Stay tuned..... http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/05/more_altidore.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/05/more_altidore.html MLS Tue, 13 May 2008 14:01:47 -0400 [update on the update!] Sorry to interrupt the lively discussion on Toronto streamers. Good stuff! Marcelo Gallardo (groin) and Fred (quad) did not practice -- jogging and stretching only -- while Devon McTavish (foot) said he is making progress and might be available Saturday night at Chivas USA (10:30 p.m. ET, Fox Soccer Channel). Domenic Mediate (hamstring) is training again. Gonzalo Peralta missed practice to be with his wife, who is due to give birth to their second child soon. UPDATE: Turns out, Fred's right quad is fine. But as he was rehabbing last week, he said he pulled his left hamstring. Zach Wells, on Kevin Payne's pointed comments after Thursday's match: "As an observer who is watching the whole game, he has the right to call everyone out. I don't think anyone from the players' perspective can really argue with anything he said. He is completely right. How can http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/05/quick_dcu_update_1.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/05/quick_dcu_update_1.html D.C. United Tue, 13 May 2008 12:40:07 -0400 *An Insider contact with strong European ties tells me that one German club recently inquired with MLS about Jozy Altidore's transfer availability. The response: Give us $7 million. That club passed, but would others in Europe be willing to fork over serious cash for a young American? *England Coach Fabio Capello has unveiled his 30-man preliminary roster for upcoming friendlies against the United States and Trinidad and Tobago, and David Beckham is on it. As for the USA roster, as we told you a few weeks ago, Bob Bradley plans to have a base of European-based players for all three friendlies (England, Spain, Argentina) and will shuttle MLS players in and out as needed. Capello's England roster: GKs: Joe Hart (Manchester City), David James (Portsmouth), Chris Kirkland (Wigan). Ds: Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), David Wheater (Middlesbrough), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), John Terry (Chelsea), Wes Brown http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/05/morning_briefing_5.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/05/morning_briefing_5.html Tue, 13 May 2008 07:42:12 -0400 First, let's go to the mailbag..... Typical RFK (from an anonymous e-mailer): "Tonight's friendly match between USA and Canada -- all and all fun, great to see the US women back on the field - YET who could focus on a game when repeatedly the game pa announcer fumbled over names, numbers, game time -- A DISGRACE (at least 7 errors). This would never have happened at a men's game. Following the game, the majority of gates were closed having nearly 10,000 fans wandering back and forth through RFK trying to get out. Security had no idea where to direct fans. Back and forth with no guidance, fans becoming more and more infuriated. Interestingly when the security station was approached, he was watching a basketball game. hmmmmm. Did they really care about this event?" Remembering Gordon Bradley (from former GMU player Irad Young): "I read with great pride the wonderful http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/05/afternoon_briefing.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/05/afternoon_briefing.html Mon, 12 May 2008 13:22:32 -0400 THE GOOD *Columbus scoring three goals in 10 minutes to win its fifth straight and improve to a league-best 6-1-0. *After two losses and four ties, the two-time defending champion Dynamo has a victory. *Dane Richards's 30-yard run and delivery that led to Juan Pablo Angel's go-ahead goal for New York. *Kenny Cooper's acute-angled smash for Dallas. *Ramiro Corrales's courageous header to give San Jose only its second lead of the season. *Taylor Twellman's first appearance of the season, and a goal 14 minutes later. *Christian Gomez's determination and ball control that led to Omar Cummings's goal. *The Crew's club-record 18 corner kicks -- all taken by Guillermo Barros Schelotto. *Through balls by Emmanuel Ekpo and Alejandro Moreno to set up Robbie Rogers's goals. *Steve Ralston becoming the first MLS player to reach 30,000 minutes. *New England improving to 3-1-1 on the road. *Kyle Beckerman's glancing redirect of Andy Williams's http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/05/the_good_the_bad_the_coyote_ug_4.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/05/the_good_the_bad_the_coyote_ug_4.html MLS Mon, 12 May 2008 10:30:08 -0400 Soccer on the front page of a major U.S. daily for the sixth consecutive day? It's true. Wednesday: Gallardo feature. Thursday: Hamlett feature. Friday: United-Fire match. Saturday: USA women feature. Sunday: USA-Canada match and Mike Wise's Ben Olsen column. Today's offering: Paul Tenorio's excellent feature on the emergence of possession soccer in Northern Virginia high schools. Give it a read. Tell us what you think. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/05/possession_game.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/05/possession_game.html Preps Mon, 12 May 2008 00:11:34 -0400