As expected, the USSF released the first batch of names Monday for Jurgen Klinsmann’s spring camp in advance of five matches to be played between May 26th and June 12th.  The initial 16 names, out of a total 29 expected by the end of the week,  consist primarily of foreign-based players whose seasons have ended, and MLS players whose teams have no more league games prior to the international break.  These 29 will then be…
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  “Sometimes something’s got to happen before something is going to happen”  – Johan Cryuff   In the final years of his life rumors abounded regarding chess legend Bobby Fischer.  Whispers of anonymous online games played at a grand-master level, evaluations of move sequences posted on message boards that showed an unparalleled understanding of the game.  From his Icelandic Elba the exile reached out thru dementia and paranoia like a spirit from another world, leaving…
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Following a remarkable victory over Italy and a debacle in Nashville during Olympic qualifying,  the US Men will once again take the field May 26th, starting a round of friendlies and leading into the first World Cup  Qualifier of 2012.  US Mens National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann is about a month away from naming his May camp roster for the Yanks.  The end of most of the European seasons, and a series of FIFA dates…
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In a record-breakingly packed PPL, the U nabbed a point from a Beckham-less Galaxy, in what was probably the most thrilling 15 minutes of the season so far.

Saturday, the U travel to sunny California to take on a real team for once. Let’s take a look at what it’s gonna take for them to come home with another W in the bag. Plus, Paul weighs in on the odds of that happening.

So….question:  is it cool to be supportive of opposing team members for whom you have admiration?  Is it ok to even admire someone on another team?  Obviously I’m not talking about cheering for an enemy during the run of play- if the greatest, classiest footballing phenom in the world were charging toward’s the Union’s goal, I’d wanna see him get flattened like a Lorenzo’s pizza at 2 AM, admiration notwithstanding. The reason we pose the…
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So, the Union lost to LA.  1-0.  There’s neither shame nor surprise in this. What was pleasant to see is that the Union lost like men.  Of course they’ve always done that; almost every loss they’ve incurred happened despite their characteristic doggedness and resolve.  But THIS time, not only did the U lose with heart- they lost with dignity. They lost like professionals, not like an expansion team with growing pains.  They didn’t lose because…
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Michael Bradley, whose play and decision making was erratic during qualifying, was my pick for man of the match on Wednesday, when the U.S. netted a 1-0 win against Algeria. He did everything one could possibly ask of a box-to-box middy. He confidently guided his team down field, controlling the pace of the game and almost always providing an easy outlet for teammates. (When you watch a replay of the match—and I know you will—keep…
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Landon Donovan is our country’s Danny Mwanga. Is there anything sweeter than a stoppage-time game saver?  While Union fans have gotten a little used to those, it’s a lot different during a World Cup match, especially one that determines whether we live or die.  In case you didn’t know…how the hell could you not know?!  After a hard fought scrap against a fierce Algeria, replete with multiple frustrating wasted chances by our side, we have emerged…
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If there is one positive thing we can take from Saturday’s loss, it’s that at least the Galaxy did not lure us into thinking, even for a moment, that the Union had a shot.  On the contrary, the Galaxy dominated every aspect of this game from start to finish.  It only took 53 seconds for all pre-game hopes to be dashed and reality to set in. The game’s first goal came off an assist from…
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