Archive for December, 2011

News in brief

News and Views for Friday, December 30th

Done deal. Reports out of Arsenal are confirming that a two-month deal for Gunner  legend Thierry Henry is complete. With Arsenal set to lose both Marouane Chamakh and Gervinho, Henry will help bolster a strike core that has become heavily reliant on goals from Robin van Persie.

Want some New Year’s MLS rumors? Click here.

2012 will add five more Generation Adidas players to the MLS.

Chelsea appear close to locking up their first signing of the January window, as Gary Cahill and the Blues are working to agree on terms. Cahill’s departure could spell more trouble for a Holden-less Bolton side. It could, however, usher in the signing of Tim Ream for the Wanderers.

Carlo Ancelotti will take over at uber-rich PSG, while David Beckham’s move to the Paris club is in doubt.

Rob Hughes of the NY Times takes a look at the fall of Blackburn.

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United States

News and Views for Thursday, December 29th

US Soccer

Rumors are swirling around that Thierry Henry will go on a two-month loan with Arsenal. The deal in place would be similar to Landon Donovan’s loan with Everton.

More rumors suggest the USMNT could face Italy, who are four time World Cup champions. A revitalized Italy under Cesare Prandelli would be a tough test for the US.

A few acquisitions in the MLS will have Swedish international Adam Johansson signing with the Seattle Sounders, and  Nathan Sturgis will leave Toronto and head for warmer weather after signing with the Houston Dynamo.

Freddy Adu is heading to Spain to train with Rayo Vallecano for 12 days.

10Kit Original 

A look at how important Antonio Nocerino is for AC Milan.

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10 Kit Essay

Do Not Call Nocerino Just Hard-working

At the beginning of the year, the 2.7 million Euro transfer fee AC Milan paid to get Antonio Nocerino was laughed at by most Milanisti. The former Palermo man was merely a replacement for the injured Matheui Flamini, who has yet to play well for Milan, and would likely ride the bench for the majority of the season. On-loan midfielder Alberto Aquilani was suppose to be Milan’s Mr. X; however, Nocerino is the one controlling the Milan midfield and quickly become a fan favorite in Milan.

While most would call Nocerino a hard working midfielder like Massimo Ambrosini or Gennaro Gattuso, the 2008 Toulon Tournament Champion for the Azzurri is much more. Nocerino does work tirelessly like the previously said Milan greats, but he also has a knack for scoring goals and is a more polished skill player. It is Nocerino’s willingness to make countless runs into the box that makes him a threat as a goal scorer. (more…)

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United States

News and Views for Tuesday, December 27

Global

The Boxing Day/holiday games over in the UK wrapped up on Tuesday, with Tottenham defeating Norwich 2-0, Arsenal drawing 1-1 against the ten men of Wolves and two newly promoted sides QPR and Swansea also canceling each other out in a 1-1 draw. The Guardian offers up five things that they learned from the two days of action.

Not easy reading for some U.S. fans – a look back at the top 10 moments of Mexico’s 2011 (Subscription required).

Mario Balotelli finds himself in the headlines once again – for different reasons this time.

U.S. Soccer

Jeffrey Carlisle of ESPN has a list of 12 things to watch in U.S. Soccer for 2012.

Sacha Kljestan went 90 minutes as his Anderlecht side drew 1-1 with Mons.

Numerous reports — including this one — have the Sounders acquiring right back Adam Johansson, a Swedish international. Nothing official yet.

The Big Lead reposts an examination of the cause of U.S. Soccer’s struggles on the international stage.

Sounder at Heart takes a brief look at Long Rang Goals by Beau Dure. It’s a must read for fans of U.S. Soccer and/or MLS.

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United States

A Very Merry USMNT X-Mas

It’s Christmas time! With Saint Klinsy, and his financial banker Sunil Gulati, it is time for the U.S. Soccer faithful to ask good Old St. Klinsy and his band of trusty helpers what U.S. Soccer fans want for Christmas?

Now, let’s try and keep this realistic – Messi is as likely to switch allegiances to the USMNT as the LA Clippers are becoming a more talented team than the LA Lakers….Wait a second, I guess Chivas USA does have a chance against the LA Galaxy.

But now is not the time for that, the current occasion is Christmas so let’s go shopping. The U.S. Soccer version of Santa Claus, I am a little surprised he is German, does not have a lot of time for us, so I have installed a three wish limit. (more…)

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Featured, U.S. Soccer

Chatting with U.S. U-23 Coach Caleb Porter

Olympic qualification is more or less right around the corner (starting at the end of March) and U.S. Soccer’s preparations were in full swing this past week with a training camp in Florida.

I spoke to U-23 coach Caleb Porter for this piece giving a snapshot of where things lie with the prepartions for the CONCACAF Tournament in March.

There’s no question that there is plenty of talent to go around at this level, and that the U.S. should have little trouble making the Olympics. But you never know – just ask Thomas Rongen – how things can go down and the perils of qualification.

This camp wrapped up Thursday evening, and the schedule is for at least two, possible three more camps before qualification. The next one is going to be in January in LA, with a trip to Central America tacked on the end of it for a couple of friendlies.

Over the past two years I’ve talked to Porter a good bit, and he’s a very sharp guy. Here are plenty of leftovers from our conversation.

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U.S. Soccer

January Camp Provides Opportunity to Shine

With World Cup qualifying set to begin, and the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament looming in March, 2012 is a much bigger year for the U.S. men’s program than it could appear at first glance.

And with the roster being released for the January camp on Thursday, it’s now a time to speculate what players from that group could make a case for themselves in the upcoming month.

After all, that’s what this camp is about – impressing Jurgen Klinsmann and his coaching staff.

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U.S. Soccer

U.S. Soccer names January camp roster

U.S. men’s coach Jurgen Klinsmann has called in 20 players for a January camp scheduled to run from January 3-26.

It’s a mostly MLS cast, save for the likes of Michael Parkhurst and Ricardo Clark, not to mention new faces like Omar Gonzalez and C.J. Sapong.

We’ll have more reactions later, but for now, here’s the full roster after the jump:

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MLS, News in brief

News and Views for Wednesday, December 21

Global

It’s not been a pretty picture in England this week, with the news that Luis Suarez earned an eight-game suspension for his alleged racial slur of Patrice Evra. Liverpool is not amused.

News also on Wednesday that Chelsea defender and England captain John Terry will be face criminal charges for his alleged abuse of QPR defend Anton Ferdinand.

Remember Joe Cole? Andy Brassell speaks with the current Lille man as he resurrects his career in France.

U.S. Soccer

The Beckham see-saw continues in full earnest. After reports emerged in France that Beckham had signed, they were met with categorical denials by Beckham’s management. Now? Beckham is apparently getting a bigger offer from the Galaxy to stay in MLS. Stay tuned – or tune out altogether.

The 2012 Generation adidas class is coming together. MLS revealed the first two players – Akron forward Darren Mattocks and Duke defender/forward/midfielder Andrew Wenger.

 

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Featured, United States

Okugo’s Freiburg Visit Maybe More Than Training

At the U-23 camp in Florida, Amobi Okugo says his recent training stint in Freiburg could turn out to more than just a visit, and Freiburg coaches told him they’d be speaking with his agents. The Union midfielder also revealed that unlike other trials in Germany recently arranged for USMNT players, it was the Bundesliga team that asked him to come in after seeing him in games with the U.S. U-23 team.

“After our last camp in Duisburg, Freiburg asked me to train with them,” Okugo said. “So I trained with them before the Generation Adidas trip, and that went really well. It was a good week, a great experience.”

After the training period, Okugo says Bundesliga coaches said they’d like to see more of him. (more…)

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