Ricardo Clark has completed a move to German Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt, at least for the remainder of the season.
The move could prove to be highly beneficial to the US national team regular as the current crop of US central midfielders continues to deepen. Clark faces competition for playing time from players like Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu, Benny Feilhaber, and Jermaine Jones (at least expected to be in contention for a starting spot once injuries heal).
Well, there have been better goals in MLS this season. But, this week I am gonna have to go with Cristman’s diving header.
what’s your pick?
Sorry for posting this video up so late, I got distracted by the USA vs Spain hoopla.
So here are the goals of the week in MLS, My vote is for Kenny Cooper.
Thoughts?
Josmer “Jozy” Altidore has transfered from MLS side New York Red Bulls to Spain’s Villarreal.
It has been reported that Altidore commanded an $8 million transfer fee, which would make him the highest player sold from MLS to Europe, breaking previous record holder Clint Dempsey .
There is no doubt that Altidore is true prospect at forward. He has size, speed, technical ability, and even a finishing touch. Most of these attributes are still very raw, however, and I think that Spain’s La Liga is a perfect place for Altidore to grow as a player and a professional. His skill set fits very well in the Spanish league, and I think he has a chance to really star at Villarreal. But don’t get your hopes up for an immediate impact. Villarreal is quality team, and Jozy breaking into the starting line up immediately is quite a stretch. Give him a few years to develop and then I think we’ll see him in a starting role. I have also heard rumors that Villarreal will loan Altidore to a smaller club in Spain’s La Liga. This may sound strange, a team acquiring a player and immediately loaning him to another team, but in effect this could potential provide Altidore an opportunity to be starting for a team in one of Europe’s top leagues. In doing so, he could develop faster and Villarreal could reap the benefits. No matter what happens, it will be interesting to see how it all comes together for Altidore in the coming months.
The transfer will not be official until July 1st, when the international transfer opens for business, but the deal has been made and agreed to. Expect Jozy to play out his days at New York, and then expect NY to be making some big mid season moves to fill some gaps.
In the end, I think Spain is perfect for Jozy, and I really hope to see him develop into a true world class player.
Thoughts?
David Beckham has been picked by England coach Fabio Capello to captain the team in their friendly against Trinidad & Tobago. This news comes almost 2 years after Beckham voluntarily relinquished the captaincy of the English national team.
I know some people might think I may be overly in support of Beckham, but in my opinion, David Beckham should never have lost his place as captain of England. After World Cup 2006 English head coach Sven Goran Eriksson stepped down from his post. With public scrutiny over England’s quarterfinal exit from the World Cup, and many reporters and fans calling for change, Beckham knew he was on the hot seat. Public opinion was saying that he was aging and losing his ability as a player and a captain, so Beckham did the most honorable thing he could do, relinquish the captaincy and leave it the hands of new head coach Steve McClaren. He did this so the team could avoid the public controversy that would erupt over who would captain the team under the new coaching regime. He did this so McClaren would have an easier time transitioning to head coach, to give him one less potential headache to worry about. What Beckham did must have been amazingly difficult, to achieve a dream and then give that dream up for benefit of the team. To me, that sounds like what a true leader, what a great captain would do.
Succumbing to public pressure for change, McClaren dropped Beckham completely from the England team, only later to bring him back when desperation to qualify for Euro 2008 had sunk in, and what did Beckham do on his return? Led England to victory, inspired England to victory, but his return came too late, England had already sunk low enough to be vulnerable, and qualification to Euro 2008 eluded the team.
McClaren was fired, and Capello was hired. Beckham never second guessed anyone’s decisions, he never criticized any of the coaches, players, press, or fans who had written him off. He went about his business as a professional, kept striving to be the best player he could be, and do all he could to provided for his family. He took the high road, and he’s better for it. His actions define what a good captain should be. His actions, not his salary or fame, led Landon Donovan to give up his captaincy of the LA Galaxy to Beckham just weeks after he arrived.
Yes, it’s true, David Beckham is aging, and while his absolute best may be behind him, what he still brings in better than most players’ best. But even so, being the captain doesn’t mean you are the best player on the team, it means you can lead, and most importantly, you can inspire.
And David Beckham may just be the best at that.
I am currently watching the La Galaxy vs Toronto FC game and I feel compelled to write a post about just how amazing the TFC fans really are. TFC is currently winning 2-0 in the 71st minute, but the signing, chanting, and screaming has been going on since kick-off. At the start of the second half TFC got their first goal, and the crowd roared. The rains came, and the crowds still roared. The second goal for TFC was great, good combination play, some Galaxy defense mistakes, and Jeff Cunningham shot it right into the corner. With the rains and noise the crowd made, it very much felt like I was watching a game in early February in the EPL.
Even on TV the crowd noise erupts. Turn the volume up just a bit, and you can almost believe you are there at the stadium. This is what the sport is all about. Passion.
Coming hot of the heels of an assist in the game between England and the USA, David Beckham may not be playing for the Galaxy this weekend against Toronto FC.
England coach Fabio Capello dropped 7 players from the roster that faced the United States for England’s next match, but David Beckham was not one of them. Considering England’s next game is in Trinidad this Sunday, I can’t see Beckham playing for the Galaxy, or even being in Toronto for the game.
To make matters worse for LA, Donovan still is a question mark with a groin injury that sidelined him near the end of the match against Kansas City last week and kept him from being on the field vs England.
Without Donovan and Beckham, the Galaxy could be in some serious trouble offensively. Yes, Alan Gordon has scored some, and Edson Buddle has been hot as of late, but without the play and service from both Becks and Donovan, I don’t think the Galaxy will be able to put forth much attack. Galaxy fans, hope that Ruiz will be healthy and fit enough to go a full 90 minutes.
Brian McBride will be leaving EPL team Fulham. McBride is another American who will no longer be at the London club. He will soon be 36 years old, and I have to believe that his soon to be retirement is a deciding factor on this decision.
It’s been known that McBride has always had the desire to return home in the states. Not that he has been unhappy with life in England, quite the opposite really. He has enjoyed perhaps the most successful overseas career of an American field player. He is well respected and well liked by managers and players alike.
The thing is, McBride is still a top quality forward. In fact, I’d say he’s only gotten better since choosing to retire from international play. If he were still playing for the US National team, I have no doubt that he would still be the number 1 player at forward, and could, this very minute, call Bob Bradley and get a place on the team.
It has been speculated that McBride wants to play for the US in the Olympics. If that is true, there is no way that U-23 coach Peter Nowak could not take McBride as one of the three overage players. With McBride on the field there is always strong presence in attack, something the U-23 team needs. I certainly hope those rumors are true and that we see McBride in a US jersey come Olympics time.
So where does McBride end up? it’s obvious he is coming back to the United States, and he can still play at the highest level. His hometown is Chicago, the best team in MLS right now, the Chicago Fire would have a major coup should McBride play out his career there. It will take some shrewed transfers and allocation moving for Chicago to make this happen. His old MLS team, the Columbus Crew, could use a player like McBride, but again for the Crew to land McBride would also take some miraculous moves by the Crew front office. Right now, Toronto FC has the first chance of McBride, and he would be a huge asset to that team. But I don’t see McBride going to Toronto, he’s coming back to be back in his home country. Regardless, it will certainly be interesting to see how this shakes out.
Where do you want to see McBride end up? Where do you think he could help a team the most?
Well another week on MLS action has come and gone. There certainly were quite a number of goals scored, which is always a good thing.
Check out this week’s goals of the week. Let me know your pick for favorite. For me, it’s a toss up between Beckham’s goal and McManus’ strike for Colorado.
Enjoy.
Here’s what I hope will be a treat for everyone! (I actually feel a little like the mainstream press on this one!)
On May 13th the Los Angeles Galaxy played an exhibition match with the Vancouver Whitecaps of the USL-1 (United Soccer Leagues) . It just so happens that I have a link to a player for the Whitecaps, central defender Omar Jarun.
I was able to catch up with Jarun, and this is what he had to say about the game and playing against Beckham:
“Playing against one of the best players in the world is always an experience. He is still a great server of the ball to say the least. At times you can tell he gets frustrated with his teammates for poor passing or not a hard enough work rate, but being the captain David tries to support his teammates.”
Jarun also talked about his role in the game, “I was matched up with their big man up top named Alan Gordon out of Oregon state. big target player with good feet. It was a fun battle considering Becks [Beckham] was serving dime balls into his head and I had to deal with it.”
About the exhibition match, Jarun commented: “The game was a success for both sides because fans got an entertaining game to watch. I’m still glad we came out and brought our style of play to them and got the result.”
There are a lot of sports fans, even those that are die hard soccer fans, that look down upon the USL, and see it as an inferior league to MLS and other leagues around the world. And yes, while the marketing and promotion heavily favors MLS and the higher profile players choose to play in MLS, by no means is the USL an inferior league. The level of play is quite good, and let’s not forget that Vancouver did beat the Galaxy 2-1, and big defender Omar Jarun played a vital role in keeping the most prolific scoring offense in MLS at a minimum.
I’d encourage anyone that has a USL team in their area to check out a game live. I’d love to hear your thoughts about the games, and check Fox Soccer Channel‘s TV listings to see when a USL game will be broadcast.
Check out the Vancouver Whitecaps by clicking here.
Check out the USL by clicking here. (And for those of you wondering where some of the top women soccer players and plying their trade nowadays, the USL W-League would be the place!)
I hope to be able to get Omar’s comments and answers to questions on here from time to time, so let me know if you have any questions for the defender and I’ll be sure to get the answers; comment or email me at soccerisfutbol@gmail.com
Follow me on Twitter