Welcome to this week’s Monday Morning Sweeper, the new name for our weekly Monday column rehashing all of the action from this weekend in MLS. &nbsp;If you remember <a href="http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/maybe-the-eastern-conference-isnt-so-bad-or-is-it-15596" target="_blank" rel="noopener">last week’s column</a>, we are trying to make this feature different and entertaining while still getting you caught up on all of the action that occurred on the pitch. &nbsp;Feel free to leave&nbsp;suggestions&nbsp;and comments below on how to improve these articles.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
As <a href="http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2012/04/01/road-rules-in-mls-home-teams-suffer-in-round-4/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBC’s Pro Soccer Talk</a> noted this weekend, last year home teams’ gained at least one point in 78% of matches last season, making this weekend’s upsets unusual to say the least. &nbsp;Yet the victors this weekend were notable not just because they were the visitors in many cases but because they were decided underdogs going into the game. &nbsp;To whit:
<ul>
<li>On Friday night, winless DC United (they of only one goal in three games) put four past the FC Dallas defense.</li>
<li>New England travels three time zones and thumps the LA Galaxy on national TV</li>
<li>San Jose visits maybe the best team in the league and comes out with a 1-0 win</li>
</ul>
<div>Is there more parity than we thought in the league or is this an&nbsp;anomaly? &nbsp;As with most things in life, it’s a bit of both. &nbsp;Outside circumstances come into play with every game (see story below) so upsets occur in sports. &nbsp;And to be honest if upsets never happen what reason would we have to watch the games? &nbsp;The answer most likely is that this is still early in the season and teams are still finding their way. &nbsp;Some teams are still working their new parts together while others are simply failing to perform early on. &nbsp;It’s the nature of the game. &nbsp;I suspect that by June, the teams we see as the best will for the most part be settling in at the top of the league with a few surprises. &nbsp;Let’s enjoy these upsets and unpredictable results, because isn’t that why we watch sports in the first place? &nbsp;Let’s also keep an eye on those home-road splits to see if parity is indeed asserting itself in the league.</div>
Player of the Week
For the second week in a row, New York’s Thierry Henry takes the prize for player of the week.&nbsp; This time, he one-upped himself by scoring a hat trick to lead his team past the Montreal Impact. &nbsp;For the first half the game looked in doubt as the visitors pressured the Red Bull midfield and were able to grab two goals by halftime. &nbsp;Henry however gave the home team something that is often overlooked in soccer – goals, as in the ability to simply finish the opportunities he is given. &nbsp;This is no more apparent than his third goal which, although it came after the result was essentially settled, was nothing more than a collected rebound that he converted into a goal. &nbsp;He also gets extra credit points for notching another assist, this time on Mehdi Ballouchy’s goal. &nbsp;It has been said ad nasuem&nbsp;but the Red Bulls really need Henry and Cooper to stay healthy and productive for this team to chase that elusive trophy.
Honorable Mention Player of the Week
Rapids fans must have felt like kids on Christmas morning when they saw two new players on the field and contributing in the team’s 2-0 victory over the Fire on Sunday. &nbsp;The HMPOW award goes to offseason signing Martin Rivero, a player the Rapids hoped could either start or be a first off-the-bench contributor in the team’s new 4-3-3. &nbsp;To break the scoreless tie in the 58th minute, Rivero sent a beautiful pass to a streaking Brian Mullan on the wing, who was able to get a centering pass to Omar Cummings. &nbsp;The forward then finished the job for what was the eventual game-winning goal. &nbsp;Rivero adds a good eye to the midfield and will be hard to keep off the pitch in the coming weeks.
Los Angeles Hits a New Low, But How Low Will They Go
It’s getting kind of ugly for the defending MLS champs as they were outplayed by the visiting New England Revolution on Saturday. &nbsp;The Galaxy now sit tied-for-last place in the West but more alarmingly have allowed seven goals in three games. &nbsp;Considering they allowed only 28 in all of last season, this is a major concern especially since two of their games (DC United and New England) were against teams without prolific offenses. &nbsp;The team certainly misses Omar Gonzalez but the problems go much deeper than just one player.
In addition, the locker room seems to be heating up with personnel problems. &nbsp;While the entire story has not yet been told, David Beckham was subbed off at halftime on Saturday and reportedly&nbsp;<a href="http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/144067.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">got into it </a>with some of his teammates, while <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2123882/David-Beckham-fury-LA-Galaxy-half-time-substitution.html?ito=feeds-newsxml" target="_blank" rel="noopener">storming off and avoiding the media</a> after the game. &nbsp;<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/apr/02/la-galaxy-david-beckham-thierry-henry?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theguardian%2Ffootball%2Frss+%28Football%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Guardian&nbsp;speculated</a> that the substitution was for tactical reasons (Beckham’s wide-play and lack of defensive cover forced the midfield to narrow) but the day before we learned that <a href="http://www.lagconfidential.com/2012/3/31/2917327/galaxy-vs-revs-game-thread-tv-time-and-more" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Robbie Keane, not Beckham, was given the captain’s armband</a> for this game when Landon Donovan was ruled out. &nbsp;We knew that this was a top-heavy team but Bruce Arena’s history has shown he can find tremendous value from contributors and second string players. &nbsp;That history is being tested this year, and a locker room controversy if it exists&nbsp;would&nbsp;severely&nbsp;hamper this team’s ability to repeat as MLS champs.
Maybe it will be this summer when we will see how good this Galaxy team truly is. &nbsp;If Beckham is named to the English Olympic squad, all three designated players will be gone for stretches this summer for international duty. &nbsp;Keep an eye on this situation.
Coaching Move of the Week
Hans Backe made a series of movies in the Red Bulls’ thumping of Montreal that showed how well he can manage his line-up. &nbsp;At halftime he subbed off Rafa Marquez due to injury (which some people find suspect) and on came Teemu Taino. &nbsp;The Finnish player settled the midfield and helped provide better distribution of the ball to the wings. &nbsp;It was not a coincidence that New York surged ahead after he came on (and Montreal didn’t). &nbsp;He also helped set up another substitute Mehdi Ballouchy’s goal in the 72nd minute. &nbsp;For these keen substitutions, Backe gets our coaching move of the week.
Quote of the Week Part I
<blockquote>If I could have taken all eleven out, I would have</blockquote>
Bruce Arena after his team’s 3-1 loss to New England, as reported by <a href="http://www.lagconfidential.com/2012/3/31/2917604/galaxy-1-revolution-3-a-learning-day-in-la" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Josie Becker</a>
Head Scratcher of the Week
Everyone at RFK this weekend knew that Brek Shea had been through an absolutely emotionally and physically draining week leading up to Friday’s match. &nbsp;Playing four games in two weeks is tough on anyone, even someone as young as Brek Shea, and even more so after the gut-punch loss to EL Salvador. &nbsp;Knowing all this, Schellas Hyndman still put Shea on the pitch for all 90 minutes and, despite the fact he played fairly well, he was a non-factor for the second half. &nbsp;Hyndman shifted Shea from the right to the left and back again even though he was having some success on the right against a smaller/slower Daniel Woolard;&nbsp;possibly this was to cover for his slowness in backtracking on defense. &nbsp;Considering the success DC had on the wings, his presence was a detriment and has earned our HSOW.
Quote of the Week Park II
<blockquote>I’ll sum up the thoughts of all Chicago Fire supporters after that 2-0 loss to the Colorado Rapids: Ugh.</blockquote>
James Coston, <a href="http://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/2012/4/1/2919164/chicago-fire-fall-flat-on-road-against-colorado-rapids" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chicago Fire Fall Flat on the Road Against Colorado Rapids</a>
Video of the Week
MMS Non-Scientific Power Ranking
10. Houston Dynamo: Off this week but the Clark and Moffat suspensions will hurt them April 15 against the Chicago Fire.
9. Portland Timbers: For the second week in a row the Timbers suffer a gut-punch loss, this time to a very good RSL team. &nbsp;To take that next step in their development as a franchise to championship contender, they need to put these kinds of games away. &nbsp;There’s still time though.
8. Vancouver Whitecaps: They are unbeaten after four games and even have a win on the road! &nbsp;Keep an eye on how they do when the competition gets tougher but they are doing well to gather points early on in the season.
7. Columbus Crew: &nbsp;The Crew are doing what they seemingly do every year – win but win quietly. &nbsp;They put away a poor Toronto FC effort this weekend and now sit in third place in the East. &nbsp;Dismiss them at your own peril.
6. New York Red Bulls: &nbsp;The Red Bulls are the opposite of the Crew – they are loud, flashy, and prone to emotional swings. &nbsp;They are on a high after a series of high-profile wins and are looking like the team we thought they could be early in the season. &nbsp;Let’s see how their depth does as the season goes on.
5. San Jose Earthquakes: The Dynamo of the West. &nbsp;They are a solid team and so far haven’t beaten themselves, plus have enough talent to slip into the top three if any of the “Big 3” slip up.
4. Colorado Rapids: &nbsp;I like this team, but there are some glaring weaknesses especially with their depth. &nbsp;They deserve all the credit in the world though for beating a good Chicago team and their newcomers really showed up. &nbsp;I expect them to yo-yo up and down these rankings all year.
3. Seattle Sounders: &nbsp;Are they still probably the best team in the league? &nbsp;Yes. &nbsp;Is it too harsh of a punishment to drop them to third after one loss? &nbsp;Maybe. &nbsp;But that was a tough loss that they could have found a way to get a point from somehow. &nbsp;Slip-ups happen though, and this still looks like a great team.
2. Real Salt Lake: &nbsp;That is what championship teams do. &nbsp;A mix of new players and veterans lead an inspired comeback in a raucous environment. &nbsp;It was a good three points to get because after Wednesday’s match against Montreal, RSL goes through a very tough stretch of schedule.
1. Sporting Kansas City: &nbsp;Four games, four wins. &nbsp;What more can you ask of a team? &nbsp;They look to be everything we thought they would be and maybe more. &nbsp;Even games where they haven’t played well they’ve won. &nbsp;The rest of the month, however, is a real test: hosting Los Angeles and RSL before traveling to Vancouver and Portland.

The Meek Inheriting the League &#8211; Monday Morning Sweeper

The Meek Inheriting the League - Monday Morning Sweeper - World Soccer Talk

The Meek Inheriting the League – Monday Morning Sweeper

Poor New York Red Bulls.
In a season when it was all supposed to come together (young stars! established DPs! weak conference! newish stadium!) it all fell apart. &nbsp;New York struggled all season and barely made the playoffs, defeating a floundering Dallas side before falling in the conference semi-finals. &nbsp;The offseason has not been kind to them either, as player moves and front offices non-changes have left this team in a lurch.
As the title of this article insinuates, there are many, many questions floating around Red Bulls this offseason and for this “Three Questions” post we had to limit and condense what we are asking. &nbsp;In the past, the prospect of a few new designated player signings (Eto’o! Anelka!) could calm everyone’s fears, but I am afraid even a shiny new toy may not mask some serious uncertainties in this club.
1. What is going to happen to the designated players?
As one of the few teams with a maximum number of designated players, the three New York DPs are a major part of this team already. &nbsp;Considering where they play, however, their roles are magnified. &nbsp;The team is already working on a new deal with keeper Frank Rost, who failed to dominate in his half season of play but was still an upgrade between the pipes for NY. &nbsp;His situation needs to be settled so the team can either move on or check that position off.
Then there’s Thierry Henry, who looks to be <a href="http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/football/886357-thierry-henrys-loan-to-arsenal-hits-a-snag-over-return-date-to-new-york-red-bulls" target="_blank">going on a two month loan</a> to Arsenal despite a few paperwork snags. &nbsp;The team obviously does not want Henry to leave even for a short loan for two reasons. &nbsp;First, he still has an intense love for his former club and Arsenal is one Chamakh/Van Persie extended absence away from needing a cheap, experienced forward for the rest of the season. &nbsp;Second, Henry was instant offense for the club last season and any additional mileage on him could reduce his effectiveness (remember, his first MLS half-season was marred by injuries). &nbsp;Even if he only stays for two months, will he still be as effective as 2011?
Then there’s Rafa Marquez, and why they haven’t transferred/released/lost their starting holding midfielder is a mystery to many of us. &nbsp;He should be gone already due to his negative impact on the locker room, but his absence will leave a gap in the defense.
2. What is going to happen to the youths?
Juan Agudelo received less playing time than you’d expect for a national team starter, due to Hans Backe’s preferences and the solid play of the other New York forwards. &nbsp;This offseason he has trained with Liverpool and Stuttgart, and the <a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/sports/soccer/blog?name=us_national_soccer&amp;id=7352449&amp;_slug_=us-soccer-juan-agudelo-raves-experience-training-liverpool&amp;action=login&amp;appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fsports%2fsoccer%2fblog%3fname%3dus_national_soccer%26id%3d7352449%26_slug_%3dus-soccer-juan-agudelo-raves-experience-training-liverpool" target="_blank">experience was positive for all parties</a>. &nbsp;One wonders if an exit is in his future as New York continued to put money into older DPs who will compete for playing time.
Then there’s Tim Ream who every week it seems like is being linked to another English side desperate for a cheap fix on defense. &nbsp;This week <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2073779/Bolton-set-gazump-West-Brom-New-York-Red-Bulls-defender-Tim-Ream-replace-Gary-Cahill.html" target="_blank">it’s Bolton </a>who are very very desperate for some help at, well, any position but especially center back. &nbsp;Erik Soler has said Ream will not be leaving, but he also said <a href="http://www.nj.com/redbulls/index.ssf/2012/01/on_soccer_red_bulls_may_regret_thierry_henrrys_loan_to_arsenal.html" target="_blank">Henry would not be going out on loan</a>, so that is a situation to watch. &nbsp;Losing one or both of these young players would be a major issue for the team.
3. What’s the plan?
The plan for the Red Bulls every year seems to be to rotate European talent in and out and hope for better results (which some define as <a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/alberteins133991.html" target="_blank">insanity</a>). &nbsp;This year it is bringing in <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/dcunited/report-swedish-defender-markus-holgersson-agrees-to-sign-with-new-york-red-bulls/2012/01/04/gIQAfahzZP_story.html" target="_blank">Markus Holgersson</a> and possibly saying goodbye to <a href="http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/soccerblog/red_bulls_joel_lindpere_eyeing_euro_RdXBF1F7dU5vCbdgy2HscJ" target="_blank">Joel Lindpere</a>. &nbsp;Undoubtedly Holgersson will help a shaky backline and whoever the newest big name designated player is will help with the playoff hunt, but can this team continue to <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/981999-the-new-york-red-bulls-roster-continues-to-be-a-revolving-door" target="_blank">churn players</a> and expect results? &nbsp;Already, New York has used the <a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/12/28/climbing-ladder-which-clubs-have-shared-most" target="_blank">most players in MLS history</a>, and maybe that is Soler and Backe’s plan: churn through experienced players while using some young ones to find the right combination.
Is it the right one though, and will it work this offseason? &nbsp;New York has a <a href="http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/mls-reaping-the-benefits-of-their-clubs-youth-academies-11515" target="_blank">good youth academy</a> that has contributed to the team, but compare their roster to FC Dallas (who <a href="http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/is-dallas-a-mls-cup-contender-three-questions-for-2012-14906" target="_blank">we reviewed yesterday</a>). &nbsp;Both have young up-and-coming players, but Dallas is looking to theirs to provide key depth. &nbsp;Time will tell which strategy is correct but it is telling that Dallas is considered a definite MLS Cup contender and New York’s season is up in the air.

The Post Where We Limit Ourselves to 3 Questions About the NY Offseason

The Post Where We Limit Ourselves to 3 Questions About the NY Offseason - World Soccer Talk

Tonight MLS shifts from the regular season to the postseason as two teams that could have entries in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diagnostic_and_Statistical_Manual_of_Mental_Disorders" target="_blank">DSM-IV</a>&nbsp;face off on Fox Soccer Channel at 9 PM ET. &nbsp;The New York Red Bulls will try to advance to face the Los Angeles Galaxy this weekend but standing in their way are the fourth place finishers in the Western Conference, FC Dallas. &nbsp;Both teams have been incredibly streaky and arguably backed into their playoff spots. &nbsp;But both also are seen as&nbsp;dark horse&nbsp;MLS Cup contenders, with Bobby McMahon picking Dallas on our MLS Talk podcast and Alexi Lalas picking New York as a contender on ESPN this weekend. &nbsp;One of these teams will be the first eliminated from an overflowing playoff field; who will it be? &nbsp;Read my take, then share your own in the comments section.
How New York Will Win the Game
Dallas has been trying to rotate players the past few weeks to juggle the CONCACAF Champions League and playoff race, but still are 1-3 in their final four MLS games and dropped out of the CCL group stage. &nbsp;So their current form may be enough to help a Red Bulls team that has gone 4-2-1 in their last seven matches advance. &nbsp;Tactically, Thierry Henry up front will pose a challenge for a shaky Dallas backline that has underperformed down the stretch. &nbsp;<a href="http://twitter.com/#!/KristianRDyer/status/128867122276335616" target="_blank">With Luke Rodgers out of the lineup</a>, it will be up to Dane Richards to partner with Henry and put the pressure on Dallas’ central defense. &nbsp;Or, if Backe chooses to keep Richards in the midfield, maybe Agudelo/Henry. &nbsp;Regardless, the starting strikers have to make their presence felt constantly. &nbsp;On defense, it’s simple: if Rafa Marquez can redeem himself by helping Jan Gunnar Soli try to “contain” Brek Shea, then New York can do what they did the last time these two teams faced off and grab a victory.
How FC Dallas Will Win the Game
It’s simple: Dallas’ injuries are easier to overcome than New York’s. &nbsp;Dallas has ruled out <a href="http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_by_ives/2011/10/david-ferreira-fc-dallas-playoffs.html" target="_blank">David Ferreira’s</a>&nbsp;return for this game, and will likely be without Ricardo Villar. &nbsp;But Rodgers is a major blow for New York, a team lacking depth. &nbsp;The key for Dallas is how Fabian Castillo and/or Marvin&nbsp;Chavez&nbsp;play. &nbsp;Both are speedy enough to trouble a slower New York defense, and their ability to play at their own pace could give New York fits all night. &nbsp;On defense, Kevin Hartman is the type of keeper you want playing for your team in the playoffs and won’t lose the game for Dallas. &nbsp;The home team will win if they can use their speed to abuse the slower New York defenders while not making any major mistakes on defense.
Prediction
I think this will be an interesting game, but I can’t decide if it will be the best game of the playoffs or a snoozer. &nbsp;I can see it going either way. &nbsp;I think New York will struggle with a Dallas team that has a bit more health and didn’t have to travel to play this game. &nbsp;I expect a Brek Shea goal plus another stoppage time winner from another Dallas player, the name of which I can’t decide upon at this moment.
FC Dallas 2, New York Red Bulls 1 in stoppage time.

Who Will Win Tonight: New York or Dallas?

Who Will Win Tonight: New York or Dallas? - World Soccer Talk

<div style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a title="Javier " chicharito"="" hernandez="" by="" eschipul,="" on="" flickr"="" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eschipul/4841858324/"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4083/4841858324_2380f7be78.jpg" alt="Javier " chicharito"="" hernandez"="" width="500" height="333"></figure></div></a>Photo by Ed Schipul</div>
How essential is watching an all star game to being a fan of a sport?
That’s the question I am asking myself with the MLS All Star Game later tonight. &nbsp;ESPN2 will be broadcasting MLS All Stars v. Manchester United (The Rematch) beginning at 8:30 PM ET and I suspect the ratings for the event will be decent (relatively speaking). &nbsp;MLS has done a good job of making its biggest players available to the media and spreading them out to numerous outlets, including Good Morning America. &nbsp;Hans Backe has also been honest and open to the trade press, trying to appease the fans by including all of their voted selections on his squad, and constructing a team that he thinks can win. &nbsp;So I am not necessarily offended by the process (although some of the selections I have major qualms with). &nbsp;I just wonder if I need to watch a glorified exhibition.
For the record, I tend not to watch all star games of sports I enjoy. &nbsp;No matter what the schtick (players pick teams, domestic v. foreign, winner gets homefield), if the game doesn’t count for something meaningful then I tend to enjoy it less. &nbsp;And that I think is the root cause of my lack of interest in tonight’s game.
Except for a major injury, no matter what happens on the pitch tonight it won’t matter. No trophies will be awarded, no points towards a final goal will be given, and there is nothing for MLS to gain from this match. &nbsp;If anything, there’s more to lose: witness the press surrounding last year’s game. &nbsp;I may be in the minority, but when there is so little at stake in a game I have little impetus to watch it on television.
In the past I have stated that I enjoy international friendlies; does this make me a hypocrite? &nbsp;Not at all, because I think the key difference is that I am watching this game on television. I can watch Manchester United on ESPN2 plenty of times in the coming months, in games that matter. &nbsp;If I were at Red Bull Arena and feeling the atmosphere of the game, I would be more excited and interested. &nbsp;But I am relegated to my couch, so I lose the atmosphere of the game and what appeals to me most about friendlies: seeing a team I can’t normally see play in-person.
Further complicating things is the counter-programming. &nbsp;Tonight at 8 PM on Fox Soccer is the CONCACAF Champions League match with Toronto traveling to Real Estelí. &nbsp;And while Toronto will likely lose (sorry Reds fans), this match has the things I want to see in a soccer game: a venue I may not normally see, a team in Real Estelí I can’t normally watch, and the drama of the outcome of this match meaning something important. &nbsp;While the picture for the All Star Game will be better (stupid Comcast and their FSC&nbsp;stubbornness), I am definitely more interested in the CCL game tonight.
In the end, I will probably watch the All Star game or flip back and forth between the two soccer games. &nbsp;But I won’t feel passionately about it and if there’s some compelling reason why I shouldn’t watch it, I may skip it altogether. &nbsp;Does that make me a bad MLS fan? &nbsp;I hope not.
What do you think? &nbsp;Are you looking forward to the game tonight?

Why I May Skip the All Star Game Tonight

Why I May Skip the All Star Game Tonight - World Soccer Talk

<div style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a title="The Home Depot Center by LA Galaxy, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelagalaxy/5651058027/"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5188/5651058027_4c5f76b5d9.jpg" alt="The Home Depot Center" width="500" height="333"></figure></div></a>Photo by LA Galaxy</div>
For American soccer fans, we are entering a frantic month of soccer. &nbsp;In addition to our normal MLS action, we will have the chance to see the Gold Cup and an impressive friendly against Spain. &nbsp;With the action spread out across the U.S., this may be the most soccer saturated this country has been since the 1994 World Cup – cities across the country even without MLS teams will get to see the beautiful game at a high level.
This has been a busy week in U.S. soccer, and below are some of the stories and topics we have yet to touch on this week.
<ul>
<li>Of course the big news is the firing of two coaches, Carlos de los Cobos of the Fire and Teitur Thordarson of the Whitecaps. &nbsp;<a href="http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/chicago-fire-confidential/2011/05/frank-klopas-wrapped-up-his.html" target="_blank">Chicago Fire Confidential</a> does a great job summarizing the takeover by Frank Klopas in Chicago, as well as details on how it went down, while <a href="http://www.whitecapsblog.com/2011/05/let-chaos-reign-teitur-thordarson.html" target="_blank">Vancouver Whitecaps FC blog</a> give a fans perspective on the Thordarson era. &nbsp;<a href="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/42417/tom-soehn-heads-back-to-the-coaching-grind.html" target="_blank">Soccer America</a> has a profile of new Whitecaps head coach Tom Soehn.</li>
<li>Some <a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/06/02/gold-cup-cummings-jamaica-roster-marshall-unclear" target="_blank">good news</a> for Colorado fans potentially – Omar Cummings has requested and received a dismissal from the Jamaican national team to continue healing from his injuries, while Tyrone Marshall has also asked for a dismissal during the group stage to help Colorado’s depth. &nbsp;Great news for the Rapids, as both players are now under the watchful eyes of the team.</li>
<li>Hans Backe was named <a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/06/02/backe-has-impressive-history-against-manchester-united" target="_blank">head coach of the MLS All Stars</a>, who will take on Manchester United on July 27 at Red Bulls Arena.</li>
<li>A U.S. national <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/13630819.stm" target="_blank">has been released</a> by his British club and is looking for work. &nbsp;Will we see Marcus Hahnemann in an MLS shirt this summer, or will he wait for his beloved Seattle to have a spot for him?</li>
<li>Is Pachuca America’s team? &nbsp;After <a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/06/01/gringo-report-gómez-traded-estudiantes-tecos" target="_blank">trading away</a> Herculez Gomes, the team is allegedly <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/soccer-insider/post/mexican-club-pachuca-interested-in-american-midfielder-damarcus-beasley/2011/06/01/AG1c8fGH_blog.html" target="_blank">in talks with</a> DaMarcus Beasely.</li>
<li>If you know me you know my love of Freddy Adu, and <a href="http://www.yanks-abroad.com/get.php?mode=content&amp;id=7874" target="_blank">this is a great interview</a> about his career to this point.</li>
<li>And finally, who says the U.S. doesn’t love soccer? &nbsp;<a href="http://epltalk.com/barcelona-vs-man-utd-is-most-watched-champions-league-final-in-us-history-32069" target="_blank">These TV numbers prove otherwise</a>.</li>
</ul>
[polldaddy poll=5108000]

Resumes Flying! The Week in Review May 30 &#8211; June 3, 2011

Resumes Flying! The Week in Review May 30 - June 3, 2011 - World Soccer Talk

Resumes Flying! The Week in Review May 30 – June 3, 2011

<div style="text-align: center"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/sports/2004-mls-cup/image/5399573?term=%22DC+United%22+%22MLS+Cup%22" target="_blank"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://view4.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/5399573/2004-mls-cup/2004-mls-cup.jpg?size=380&amp;imageId=5399573" border="0" alt="CARSON, CA - NOVEMBER 14: Ryan Nelsen #7 of the D.C. United celebrates with the fans after winning the MLS Cup 3-2 over the Kansas City Wizards on November 14, 2004 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)" width="380" height="252"></figure></div></a></div>
As the MLS world check their passports and descend upon Toronto, the league’s premier and winningest team is searching for its next manager, its third in the past three season (if you include interim Ben Olsen). &nbsp;The team let go of Curt Onalfo toward the end of the season and turned the reigns over to team legend Olsen. &nbsp;But even a resurrected Brian Clough could not help this team – DC United has fallen to the point where its offense can politely be described as woeful and its management described as inept. &nbsp;So the next manager will have quite a task ahead of him, not only dealing with the problems on the pitch but with dysfunction off it as well.
DC over the past decade has gone with rehired coaches (Onalfo, Hudson), former players (Olsen, Nowak), and MLS assistants (Soehn), and it is interviewing people in these categories again. &nbsp;The Washington Post‘s excellent soccer writer Steve Goff <a href="http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2010/11/dc_united_coaching_search_upda.html" target="_blank">reported last week</a> that DC has interviewed seven candidates, and the next head coach will come from that group. &nbsp;Most of the interviewees are American, team president Kevin Payne confirmed, but refused to name names. &nbsp;One interesting name leaked, however, is Swiss pro coach Lucien Favre. &nbsp;Favre coached FC Zurich and Hertha BSC, the latter to a fourth place finish in the Bundesliga before he was fired in 2009. &nbsp;He also led Zurich to two Swiss titles. &nbsp;The international option is a new one for DC United, but a Favre hiring would look like DC is emulating New York’s hiring of Hans Backe. 
The other options seem to be a a mixture of assistant coaches and current managers. &nbsp;The assistants alleged to have been interviewed are RSL’s Robin Fraser, Los Angeles Dave Sarachan, and New York’s Richie Williams, but I suspect Williams will be hard to pry away from New York. &nbsp;The mentioned manager is Colin Clarke, who’s claim to fame is leading the Islanders in an upset of the Galaxy in the CCL. &nbsp;The club could also be looking at the collegiate level, maybe interviewing Akron coach Caleb Porter (<a href="http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/1110/major-league-soccer/2009/12/16/1690692/mccarthys-musings-porter-sends-united-back-to-its-search" target="_blank">who turned them down last year</a>) or University of Maryland’s Sasho Cirovski, who is a longtime successful coach in College Park.
In my opinion, with DC United turning to youth to begin rebuilding the club, I think the club should hire someone with experience coaching younger players, so luring Cirovski or Porter would be a good hire for the team. &nbsp;It’s also a clean break from the recent past; the last coach hired from the university level was a guy named Bruce Arena. &nbsp;Assuming those two aren’t interested, and there’s a good chance they aren’t, hiring a Sarachan would be the safe move for this club.
But does DC United’s hire matter? &nbsp;After this disastrous season, the team fired its manager but retained the team president and general manager. &nbsp;And that’s the root of the problem – the inability to think outside the box. &nbsp;The club is fortunate that Andy Najar has developed so quickly because little else has. &nbsp;Players like Bill Hamid were held back by injuries, but others like Danny Allsopp and the two designated players signings have been busts. &nbsp;For the club to ascend again to the league’s upper echelon, ownership needs to take a serious look at the entire franchise and come up with a good long-term plan that combines strategic thinking on and off the pitch. &nbsp;A good managerial hire is a good first step.
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Who Will Resurrect the DC United Franchise?

Who Will Resurrect the DC United Franchise? - World Soccer Talk

<div style="float: right;margin-left: 5px"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/sports/dallas-los-angeles-galaxy/image/10054381?term=MLS" target="_blank"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://view2.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/10054381/dallas-los-angeles-galaxy/dallas-los-angeles-galaxy.jpg?size=234&amp;imageId=10054381" border="0" alt="CARSON, CA - OCTOBER 24: David Ferreira of FC Dallas and Edson Buddle of the Los Angeles Galaxy vie for position to the ball during their MLS match on October 24, 2010 in Carson, California. The Galaxy defeated FC Dallas 2-1. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)" width="234" height="326"></figure></div></a></div>
On the eve of the beginning of the 2010 playoffs, MLS announced the finalists for the end-of-season awards.&nbsp; While it does not have the international prestige of the Ballon D’Or, there is always a good lively debate about the nominees, who deserves what, and who got left out.&nbsp; The winners will be announced beginning on November 3 and then continuously leading up to the MLS final.
As they say in Hollywood: and the nominees are…….
MVP: Edson Buddle (Galaxy), David Ferreira (FC Dallas), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
Wondolowski is the Golden Boot winner this year and the major reason San Jose is in the playoffs this weekend.&nbsp; Ferreira contributed 8 goals and 13 assists this season for Dallas.&nbsp; But my vote would go to Edson Buddle because of the three, he is the player this year who seemed to dominate the pitch every time he was on it.&nbsp; I remember attending the DC United/Galaxy match after his sub-par World Cup performance and watching him just control play every time the ball was in United’s half.&nbsp; He only finished with one goal and could have finished with more, and that was the kind of season he had.&nbsp; I think he was the most valuable player of this year.&nbsp; Kudos to MLS for thinking outside the box and not picking Donnovan.
Newcomer of the Year: Joel Lindpere (Red Bulls), Thierry Henry (RedBulls), Alvaro Saborio (Real Salt Lake)
As an Arsenal fan I will always love Henry and am so glad he is playing in the United States.&nbsp; But he may have been the fourth best newcomer on his own team!&nbsp; If he wins it will be because of name recognition.&nbsp; Lindpere was a great pickup for New York from the soccer powerhouse nation of Estonia.&nbsp; But Saborio looks to be the favorite for this award, after providing a team-high 12 goals on the season.
Coach of the Year: Hans Backe (Red Bulls), Schellas Hyndman (FC Dallas), Jason Kreis (Real Salt Lake)
If you go simply by points, the award would go to Kreis whose club has 56 points and finished just behind LA.&nbsp; And I don’t think that would be a bad choice.&nbsp; Backe was able to integrate a number of new players successfully to take the Eastern Conference.&nbsp; Hyndman guided the club through 19 straight matches without a loss and had the club challenging for the Supporters’ Shield.&nbsp; But Kreis has molded a team that many consider the favorite to win the championship and that is a good quality in a coach of the year.
Rookie of the Year: Danny Mwanga (Philadelphia Union), Andy Najar (DC United), Tim Ream (Red Bulls)
Danny Mwanga is the front runner for this award, scoring 7 goals this season and becoming an early star for the expansion franchise.&nbsp; Ream benefited from excellent teammates and still made a name for himself by playing in every match as a rookie.&nbsp; But Andy Najar would get my vote just because on a team that was abysmal most of the year, Najar was a definite bright spot.&nbsp; Najar, who is 17, was DC United’s primary offensive threat and made plays from the wing that hide his true age.&nbsp; He definitely deserves the award for a combination of age, skill, and performance.
The rest of the nominees after the break:

Defender of the Year:
Jamison Olave (Real Salt Lake) 
Nat Borchers (Real Salt Lake) 
Omar Gonzalez (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Goalkeeper of the Year:
Kevin Hartman (FC Dallas) 
Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake) 
Donovan Ricketts (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Comeback Player of the Year:
Brek Shea (FC Dallas) 
Bobby Convey (San Jose Earthquakes) 
Chris Albright (New York Red Bulls)
Referee of the Year:
Mark Geiger 
Kevin Stott 
Baldomero Toledo
Fair Play:
CJ Brown (Chicago Fire) 
Sebastian Le Toux (Philadelphia Union) 
Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year:
Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo) 
Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards) 
Seth Stammler (New York Red Bulls)
Note: I will be Tweeting during the Columbus/Colorado match this evening.&nbsp; If you want to chat, follow <a href="http://www.twitter.com/roberthayjr" target="_blank">@roberthayjr</a>

Finalists Announced for MLS Awards

Finalists Announced for MLS Awards - World Soccer Talk

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