US Soccer Players

Upside: On the opponents

Their Words

"The final outcome of any game shouldn’t rely on the opponents. All of the games to come will be difficult and a big challenge. We must face the situation however it turns out and try and make the best of it.” Hannover 96 sporting director Jorg Schmadtke. 

Other Sources

Lessons learned: How every MLS team should re-think its offseason plan - from The Sporting News's Brian Straus: The MLS regular season is important, but only in the middle of the standings — not at the top.

Red Bulls' bold steps are only the beginning - from Soccer America's Ridge Mahoney: Big stars and Designated Players come and go, but an MLS team sinks or swims on how players like Lade perform.

For MLS, it's the ratings

By J Hutcherson - WASHINGTON, DC (Dec 7, 2012) US Soccer Players – There was a time in Major League Soccer when any and all comparisons to the original North American Soccer League soccer brought looks of shock and horror from league officials. Blaming player salaries as the primary problem with its predecessor, MLS adopted a plan to control spending known as single-entity. At its basic level, single-entity’s primary function is to control salaries by limiting the market for the services of professional soccer players at the highest level in North America.

Bedoya scores in Europa League

Alejandro Bedoya scored for Helsingborg in their 3-1 over Twente in Europa League action on Thursday.  Nikola Durdic opened the scoring in the 6th minute and Bedoya got a goal in the 21st.  Thomas Sorum made it 3-0 in the 67th with Twente spoiling the shutout in the 74th minute. 

Also in Group L, Steve Cherundolo subbed on in the 71st minute for Hannover 96's 2-2 draw with Levante. Hannover were ahead 2-0 with Didier Ya Konan's goal in the 26th minute, but Levante cut the lead in half early in the second-half and equalized four minutes into stoppage time.  Hannover wins the group with a one-point lead over Levante.  Helsingborg and Twente exit the competition with Helsingborg finishing third on goal difference. 

Friday's TV

Ligue 1 on beIN and Univision Deportes: Toulouse - Bastia at 2:45pm. La Liga on beIN Espanol has Espanyol - Sevilla at 3:30pm. All Times Eastern

Upside: Honored

Their Words

"I’m honored to continue representing the Rapids and the state of Colorado.” Colorado Rapids midfielder Pablo Mastroeni. 

Other Sources

BOCANEGA CLOSE TO RETURNING FROM HAMSTRING INJURY - from Soccer by Ives: Bocanegra admitted that he nearly made a move to Major League Soccer this past summer....

Dynamo build foundation for more title pursuits - from The Houston Chronicle's Jose de Jesus Ortiz: They haven't lost at home to an MLS team since June 2011.

Questions: More MLS Drafts

By Tony Edwards - San Jose, CA (Dec 6, 2012) US Soccer Players -- In Thursday’s column, Tony looks at Friday’s Re-Entry Draft, examines the Sounders approach towards their academy players, and asks when MLS teams start preseason.

Jones in the USA midfield

By Charles Boehm - WASHINGTON, DC (Dec 6, 2012) US Soccer Players -- It’s an old idea that communication is leadership, and Jurgen Klinsmann is doing a fair job of living out that maxim with his proactive entrées to the American soccer media. The latest was a breakfast meeting with journalists in the run-up to last week’s MLS Cup at the Home Depot Center. To his credit, in the US National Team boss faced up to a long-simmering frustration of some US fans... his seemingly implacable faith in Jermaine Jones.

UCL: Schalke and Malaga finish top of their groups

Jermaine Jones subbed on in the 72nd minute for Schalke 04's 1-1 draw with Montpellier in their Champions League Group B finale on Tuesday.  Schalke's Benedikt Howedes opened the scoring in the 56th minute with Montpellier equalizing three minutes later.  Schalke finished top of the group with Arsenal also advancing to the knockout round in second-place. 

In Group C, Oguchi Onyewu and Malaga drew 2-2 with Sacha Kljestan's Anderlecht.  Duda put Malaga up in the 45th with Anderlecht equalizing in the 50th minute.  It was Duda again in the 61st, with Anderlecht getting an 89th minute equalizer.  Malaga advances in 1st-place with Milan in 2nd.  Anderlecht finished bottom of the group.  The referee booked Kljestan in the 33rd minute.

Thursday's TV: Club World Cup prelims

Club World Cup on Fox Soccer: Sanfrecce Hiroshima - Auckland City at 5:30am.

Europa League on Fox Soccer: Udinese - Liverpool at 1pm, Spurs - Panathinaikos at 3pm, and Bordeaux - Newcastle United at 5pm. Fox Soccer Plus has Fenerbache - 'Gladbach at 1pm, Inter Milan - Neftci at 3pm, and Viktoia Plzen - Atletico Madrid at 5pm.  All Times Eastern

Upside: Put things right

Their Words

"If you put it simply then you always have the chance to start again in football and cooking. You can always put things right and quickly secure another win. It’s the same with cooking. If something goes wrong at lunch time, then you get back on track in the evening." Bayern Munich chef Alfons Schuhbeck. 

Other Sources

M.L.S. Sets Sights on Team and Stadium in Queens - from The NY Times' David Picker: It felt a lot like a soccer match.

Potential MLS targets for 2013 - from MLSsoccer.com's Greg Seltzer: Believe it or not, the most tantalizing aisle this year is the one populated by the US national team's regional rivals.

MLS to Queens

By Cesar Diaz - FLUSHING, QUEENS (Dec 5, 2012) US Soccer Players -- On Tuesday, December 4, 2012, Major League Soccer hosted a Soccer Town Hall over at the Queens Theatre. The purpose of this meeting was for the public and residents to learn about how an MLS stadium would benefit their community. Those in attendance consisted of local politicians, supporters groups, youth soccer programs, unions, local merchants and several Latino-based organizations. Despite the cultural difference, the majority in attendance were in solidarity for MLS bringing soccer to Queens.

Taking advantage of transfer season in MLS

By Jason Davis - WASHINGTON, DC (Dec 5, 2012) US Soccer Players -- I’m going to make a small request here at the top of this piece about the frenetic insanity of the MLS transaction season. Read it quickly, as quickly as you can. In fact, stop wasting time on this part and skip to the second paragraph, post haste. If you don’t hurry, you’ll probably miss a cut, a trade, a declined option, all of the above, or all of the above plus allocation money. The exhaust from David Beckham’s blinged-out SUV hasn’t even left the air above the Home Depot Center yet, and Major League Soccer clubs are already scrambling to reconfigure their teams for 2013.

Beckham's Significant Role

By Zac Lee Rigg - LOS ANGELES, CA (Dec 5, 2012) US Soccer Players -- “One more year” rang out in the LA Galaxy locker room on Saturday. “One more year,” the fans chanted two days later to celebrate the MLS Cup triumph. Unfortunately, for the Galaxy faithful there will be no more years for David Beckham in Major League Soccer.

After six years in Los Angeles, the 37-year-old heads to an undetermined location for one final playing adventure. This adventure is over. Beckham had an option year in his contract, but decided to decline it, announcing the impending divorce before the MLS Cup final.

Wednesday's TV

Champions League on Fox Soccer: Chelsea - Nordsjaelland at 2:30pm, Manchester United - CLUJ at 5pm (live on Fox Soccer Plus at 2:30pm), and Barcelona - Benfica at 7pm. FS+ has Celtic - Spartak Moscow at 5pm. Coppa Italia on beIN Sport: Cagliari - Pescara at 12:30pm. Copa Sudamericana on Fox Deportes: Tigres - Sao Paulo at 6:30pm.  All Times Eastern

Upside: Keep it going

Their Words

“We want to get through to the knockout stage of the competition and as we’ve said all along, we want to do something special this season. Things are going well at the moment and we've just got to keep it going.” Spurs forward Jermain Defoe.  

Other Sources

About 3,000 attend Galaxy celebration - from The LA Times' Kevin Baxter: "I think we're giving the Lakers a little bit of a run for their money."

Tim Ream hopes New York Red Bulls build around American players - from Goal.com's Alex Labidou: "I think that will definitely help the team."

Donovan at Galaxy's MLS Cup celebration

Questions: Depth and Expectation

By Tony Edwards - San Jose, CA (Dec 4, 2012) US Soccer Players -- In Tuesday’s column, Tony looks at competing benches in MLS Cup, Portland’s new coach, and a problem with split seasons if you’re looking forward to the revival of the New York Cosmos.

MLS Cup: MatchDay 360

Tuesday's TV

Champions League on Fox Soccer: Borussia - Dortmund - Manchester City at 2:30pm, Real Madrid - Ajax at 5pm, and Olympiacos - Arsenal at 7pm. Fox Soccer Plus has Milan - Zenit at 2:30pm. PSG - Porto is on Fox Deportes at 5pm. Coppa Italia on beIN Sport: Catania - Cittadella at 12:30pm.  All Times Eastern

Upside: Be ready

Their Words

“Once you step outside of the Premier League, it doesn’t get any more difficult than drawing one of the top teams in the Championship away I am sure they will be up for it, and their fans too, and we have to go there and be ready for whatever is thrown at us." Stoke City manager Tony Pulis. 

Other Sources

Galaxy, after winning two titles, must now deal with transition - from The LA Times' Kevin Baxter: They started preparing for Beckham's MLS retirement during the summer, weeks before it was announced publicly.

Babbel sacked as Hoffenheim coach - from Soccernet's Stephan Uersfeld: after his team had taken only six points from their last ten games, the club decided to dispense with his services.