USSoccerPlayers

Quaranta Reaches A Goal

By Graig Carbino -- ALBANY, NY (July 9, 2009) USSoccerPlayers - Fight, heart and perseverance. Cliché vocabulary that was thrown around over the past few weeks when speaking of the United States National Team. 

At first all of these words began with “lack of” and finished with more dismissive language in the back. They said this team “showed a lack of fight,” they “had a lack of heart,” they “lacked perseverance.” You get the idea. 

By the end of the Confederations Cup in South Africa it was all about “way to fight” and “huge heart” when describing the US team. A shocking run to the tournaments finale ending in runner’s up medals for America’s team tends to have that effect.

The never ending world of soccer demands that we quickly turn our attention to the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Bob Bradley has assembled a team of younger players and lesser-known veterans that are looking to build on that now established reputation of toughness blended with skill. They’ll go through trials and tribulations and look to come out on top in the end. 

There isn’t a player in the current National Team set-up that has demonstrated the willingness to fight and scratch and claw through his own on and off the field struggles more than DC United midfielder Santino Quaranta.

Nowak's Union

By Graig Carbino - ALBANY, NY (June 1, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- The Philadelphia Union won't kick a ball for real until the Spring of 2010. Their stadium is still early in the process of being constructed and they have yet to introduce their first player. Ownership still felt it important at this stage of the game to bring in a coach and start the groundwork of putting together a brand new team. Enter Peter Nowak.

The former Polish international, DC United manager, and US National Team assistant was introduced at a press conference last week. It will be his duty, along with Union CEO and Operating Partner Nick Sakiewicz to assemble a team capable of competing right away.  

Champions League: Minute By Minute

By Graig Carbino - ALBANY, NY (May 27, 2009) -- European soccer’s 54^th final has now officially been decided. The epic battle pitting Manchester United against Barcelona in Rome is in the books. If you haven’t seen it yet, hold off on reading further. Once you’ve had a chance to review the tape come on back and tell us what you thought.

The Blanco Issue

By Graig Carbino - ALBANY, NY (May 21, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- In case you might have missed it amongst all the "end of the European season, Champions League, looking forward to summer international soccer" fervor, there is a familiar face heading back into Mexican National team camp for upcoming World Cup qualifiers in early June.  

That's right, Chicago Fire play maker Cuauhtemoc Blanco is back in the mix for El Tri and is likely to play some sort of role in their upcoming matches against El Salvador (June 6th) and Trinidad and Tobago (June 10th). The 36 year-old is not on a farewell tour with Mexico.  He is being called in to contribute to a struggling squad in need of a lift.  

World Vs. Confederation

By Graig Carbino - ALBANY, NY (Apr 30, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- The United States National Team has a serious docket of matches lined up for the next couple of months. They'll mix in World Cup qualifiers with the Confederations Cup in South Africa and the Gold Cup right here at home. The debate will soon rage on regarding what sort of rosters manager Bob Bradley should assemble for these various competitions. 

The busy summer campaign kicks off in early June with World Cup qualifiers at Costa Rica on June 3rd and in Chicago three days later against Honduras. The team then heads to South Africa for the Confederations Cup. They begin play against Italy on the 15th before matches against Brazil and Egypt on the 18th and 21st. If the team manages to advance out of this difficult group, they could conceivably play games all the way up to June 28th.

Getting The Game

By Graig Carbino - ALBANY, NY (Apr 16, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- I wonder sometimes about the American soccer fan. How do we define this wide-ranging crowd? To those who don’t get our game, our friends and family who prefer American football or baseball or basketball, we are outsiders. Cast aside as Euro-loving snobs or ".edu guys" by a certain national radio personality, we are not understood or appreciated. I wonder why….
 
If you grew up in the United States and were into sports you most likely found your way to the National Football League at some point. It's a real easy thing to get into. We all know that they play every Sunday from late September until early February without fail. We also know where the best football is. It’s right here in front of us and easy to find.

Moving Right Along

By Graig Carbino - ALBANY, NY (Mar 5, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- Oh what a day it was back on January 12th, 2007. The 2007 MLS SuperDraft was in full swing and amateur players from all over the country were nervously awaiting their potential professional destinations. Maurice Edu went to Toronto with the first pick and things seemed to be going so smoothly.  

It was a random, bitter Friday in the middle of January and a bunch of young hopefuls were ready for action. Young, cheap players (also known as the backbone of Major League Soccer) just wanted a chance to prove themselves, and January 12th was their starting line. The spotlight was on them, and then, well then something went wrong.

The Standard Response

By Graig Carbino - ALBANY, NY (Feb 25, 2008) USSoccerPlayers -- Legendary Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz once said “coaching is nothing more than eliminating mistakes before you get fired.” A bit harsh? Maybe, but in today’s world of high stakes, high priced college and professional sports it is probably just about right.

With the amount of money that is put into - and then extracted out of - sports around the World, it’s hardly surprising that owners would have a quick trigger finger. Whether or not hastily firing a coach actually works to improve a team probably has more to do with the actual players involved and available than it does the coach.

Perfect Setup

By Graig Carbino - ALBANY, NY (Dec 17, 2008) USSoccerPlayers -- “Man, that’s gonna be cold,” was my first thought when the US Soccer Federation announced yesterday that the US Men would be playing their February 11th World Cup qualifier against Mexico in Columbus, OH. Shocked? Surprised? Disgusted? Come on, you didn’t really think they were going to play this thing in Salt Lake City, did you?

In case you were wondering, the average high temperature for Columbus in February is a balmy 38-degrees. The low? Try 21 degrees. In anybody’s world that is chilly. Keep in mind that I am a native of the Northeast. Imagine how the Mexican team must feel. Then consider the history of “El Tri” at this stadium and you get the sense that they might not be looking forward to their impending stay in Franklin County.

League Vs. League

By Graig Carbino - ALBANY, NY (Dec 5, 2008) USSoccerPlayers -- We are always looking for a good comparison. Someone like someone, something that sort of works with something else, like for like, etc. In sports we like to compare teams from this age to dynasties from the past. We argue that a player today is better than a player from 30 years ago or vice-versa.

In US soccer circles folks love to look at MLS and attempt to put it on par with another league around the world. Does MLS compare well with the English Championship? Would DC United or the Houston Dynamo survive relegation if they were somehow magically thrown into the Coca-Cola-ship? What MLS players could start in the Premiership?

Let’s stick to the comparison theme and pose a few questions. Which American sports league formed in the mid 90’s has had fluctuating levels of both expansion and contraction during its existence? I think more specificity is needed so here is a hint: The league in question has lost millions of dollars since its inaugural season. Not sure yet? How about this one… this league recently signed a long term TV deal with ESPN that will actually pay the league rights fees to broadcast its games.

Thankful

By Graig Carbino - ALBANY, NY (Nov 28, 2008) USSoccerPlayers -- Turkey, stuffing, apple sauce, mashed potatoes, some pie, and a nap. That is how Thanksgiving is supposed to play out. Luckily, things went according to plan yesterday for myself and the proper indulgence took place. With that sort of spread on display it is easy to forget what this holiday is really all about. Cowboys and Indians, right?

No, seriously. I’ve always thought and been taught that Thanksgiving is an opportunity to take a step or two back and think about all the things that one should be thankful for. Health, happiness, family, prosperity, all those things could make the list. With that theme in mind, it felt like the right time to lay out a list of a few things American soccer fans should be thankful for in this festive season.

Lessons In Commerce

By Graig Carbino

ALBANY, NY (Nov 20, 2008) USSoccerPlayers -- Mentality. Defined as a habitual or characteristic mental attitude that determines how you will interpret and respond to situations. It’s always interesting to try and determine what type of mental attitude a player, or more importantly, a team will take into various game situations.

Don’t kid yourself. All games are not created equal. Players love to say they are, but then again players are taught to answer questions posed by members of the media without actually saying anything. Derek Jeter talks to the media after all 162 New York Yankee games every season but never seems to answer any of the questions sent his way.  He answers without answering.

Still, in a private, honest moment even the Yankee captain would have to admit that a game against the Red Sox, in Fenway Park, in August, with the teams separated by one game in the standings, matters more than an April game against the Royals in cold and windy Kansas City. It’s just easier to “get up” for the really big games. Soccer is the same way.

East And West

USSoccerPlayers Graig Carbino looks at his playoff predictions as we await the Conference finals.

By Graig Carbino --

ALBANY, NY (Nov 13, 2008) USSoccerPlayers -- Three out of four isn’t bad, right? As the Eastern and “Western” conference finals draw near, I must reflect back a few weeks ago to my not so mathematical, pulled from a hat predictions for the first round of the MLS playoffs.

Back on October 29th before all the madness began, I had Columbus over the Wiz and Chi-town over the Revs. Those two teams needed to get it done and they did not disappoint. I also plucked Real Salt Lake as my upset special and they didn’t let me down either. Houston over the team formerly known as the Metrostars did not work out quite as well. Let’s dissect shall we.

American Abroad: The Move

USSoccerPlayers' Graig Carbino works through the situations in Europe for multiple American players looking for playing time. 

By Graig Carbino

ALBANY, NY (Nov 10, 2008) USSoccerPlayers -- Stay or go? That remains the question for a number of American players.  For most, the upper reaches of Europe remains the measure of an elite career.  It's worth the risks to take the chance.  Based on what we have seen so far this season, success seems to be more down to individual situations than anything else.

Clint Dempsey has gone from a regular with Fulham to a substitute because a new manager decided to bring in somebody else.  Michael Bradley is facing a similar situation with his move from Holland to the Bundesliga.  Bundesliga.2 club Hansa Rostock drop to the middle of the table after a four-game winless streak, and Heath Pearce will need to impress a new coach after Frank Pagelsdorf was fired.

American Abroad: Hitting Restart

What does the early season shakeup really do for a club?  If you're Tottenham, quite a lot, as USSoccerPlayers' Graig Carbino explains.  Also over the weekend, Jozy Altidore got his first goal in La Liga. 

MLS Playoff Primer

USSoccerPlayers' Graig Carbino takes us through the opening round of the MLS playoffs focusing on the big stories that will play out over the next few weeks.  Can Columbus extend their League-best play into the postseason?  How bad off is New England?  Does RBNY have a chance?  Read on.

Telling The Story

With the New York Red Bulls once again in a position where their season could end sooner than expected, Graig Carbino looks at the squad moves RBNY coach Juan Carlos Osorio made with the '08 edition of the Red Bulls.

What Was Wanted

Graig Carbino looks at the realities of the youth movement for the US National Team after the 2-1 loss to Trinidad & Tobago on Wednesday night. 

Lessons From The District

Some of the things we learned from the United States' 6-1 win over Cuba on Saturday night at RFK Stadium were reminders, others indicators.  For Graig Carbino, the result is more of the same.  The United States shouldn't be dropping home games to anyone in CONCACAF, and they're getting the away wins for a reason.

One Month Left

Graig Carbino outlines the race for the MLS Playoffs while revising his picks for November soccer.  How much hope should the clubs at the bottom of the table still have?  Can DC finish off their mid-season revival with a shocking late return to form?  Will San Jose have enough to push into contention?  Read on.