PSP
Some of the work that PSP photographer Nicolae Stoian did with Photographers for Hope at the 2010 Homeless World Cup is on display at UEFA’s House of European Football in Nyon. You can view photos from the show on UEFA’s website.
Union
Jack McInerney talks about his motivation during his recent USMNT U-20 call up and the chemistry he has with Amobi Okugo: “Everywhere we go, we’re right there with each other,” McInerney said. “We have a good time playing with each other. We have a little connection on the field.”
Here’s an excellent look at the just completed open tryout hosted by the Union and Harrisburg City Islanders. “This has been a really good tryout, to be honest with you,” said Union assistant coach John Hackworth. “The level here is pretty impressive. I told the first group Tuesday morning, after their game, that I have been to a lot of these over the years, and, all in all, the level is good. It made for good games, good competition, and some very tough choices for the coaches.”
Here’s a look at the tryout from the perspective of one of the hopefuls.
Tasha Kai
Independence
The Independence have announced several signings that will help their offense and bolster their backline. In defense, three free agents have been signed: former Atlanta Beat defenders Kia McNeill and Leigh Ann Robinson as well as Estelle Johnson, who played for the Independence last season. Up front, the Independence have signed Tasha Kai, the Olympic Gold Medalist and WPS All-Star who led Sky Blue FC in scoring in 2009 and 2010.
Local
Penn’s Kelly Scalora has been named the Eastern College Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year. Scalora had already won Ivy League Rookie of the Year honors.
MLS
FC Dallas is very pleased to have Chris Seitz.
Landon Donovan announced on Tuesday that he will not be joining Everton on loan. “While I enjoyed my time at Everton last season and still appreciate all the support their fans have given me, I feel that it is important to continue to rest and recover this offseason as opposed to going on loan,” he said. “I never considered being loaned to a club other than Everton, but I have been playing nearly nonstop for the past two years, and I believe that this decision will allow me to perform at my best for the Galaxy and the national team throughout the coming year.”
Stoke City are considering making a move for Edson Buddle.
Nicolas Anelka is considering ending his career in MLS. A report in the Daily Mail quoting his brother and agent Claude Anelka says, “There are more and more players who want to go and play there. It would be a dream for him. The United States represents something. Players say, ‘I’ll try and play there, even if I earn less money than in Qatar’ for example.” Anelka’s contract with Chelsea expires in the summer of 2012.
Houston goalkeeper Pat Onstad has announced his retirement. He will join DC United as an assistant coach.
Portland Timbers have added Widmer Brothers Brewing, a local brewer of craft beer beers, as a sponsor. The company will sponsor a new bar at PGE Park, the name of which will be chosen by a fan vote on the club’s Facebook page. Hey, Union: do Philadelphia Brewing Company, Yards, or Victory ring any bells? Or has Budweiser got your tongue?
The Timbers expect to pass the 10,000 mark in season tickets sold by the end of the year.
US
The 24-player roster for the USMNT January training camp has been announced and it includes no players from the 2010 World Cup squad. “The timing is right to assess many of the younger players and to broaden the player pool as we look forward to the next three years,” said coach Bob Bradley. The squad includes 20 players from ten MLS. Among them is Jeff Larentowicz, who played at Chestnut Hill Academy and FC Delco and is now with Colorado Rapids. MLSsoccer.com breaks down the call ups.
The 26-player roster for the USWNT training camp ahead of the 2011 Four Nations Tournament in China on January 21-25 includes Lori Lindsey, Heather Mitts and Amy Rodriguez of the Philadelphia Independence. Mitts is among the eight veteran players who will skip the training camp and will rejoin the squad for the trip to China.
Based on player ratings submitted by readers for every league game so far in the current Premiership season, Stuart Holden is ranked No. 1.
US Soccer has announced its Athlete of the Year Awards. For the men, Landon Donovan won Athlete of the Year for the fourth time and Gale Agbossoumonde won Young Athlete of the Year. For the women, Abby Wambach was named Athlete of the Year (also for the fourth time) and Bianca Henninger was named Young Athlete of the Year.
Elsewhere
FIFPro, the international players union, has joined calls for the 2022 World Cup to be played in winter.
Former Chelsea owner and current Leeds owner Ken Bates is calling for a boycott of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. “The world game is ruled by two bob countries, with key votes from the likes of Trinidad and Tobago and Mali, with power bases in Liechtenstein and Andorra, making a bizarre distortion of the world game…FIFA should be run like the Security Council of the United Nations where everyone gets a vote, and certainly FIFA needs to have enough top countries represented to make it representative of the world game…We should not be afraid to take on FIFA, to leave FIFA if necessary, unless they sort out their organization.”
Sepp Blatter says the response of some of the failed bidders for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups has not been sportsmanlike. “Maybe some people have forgotten that in football you have to learn to lose as well as to win.”
Jonathan Wilson, the Guardian’s tactics boffin, looks at how tactics have developed in 2010.
After winning the Golden Boy, the award for the best young player in Europe, Mario Balotelli says only Messi is better. “There’s only one that is a little stronger than me: Messi. All the others are behind me.”
Rafa Benitez has been sacked as manager of Inter. He is expected to be replaced by former Milan manager Leonardo.
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