January 6, 2012 OFFSIDE REMARKS
Gonzalez injury illustrates the perils of MLS loaning players
For all you fans who wanted to know why I did not want the Red Bulls to loan captain and striker Thierry Henry to Arsenal, I give you Exhibit A:
On his first day of training with FC Nuremberg in Germany, LA Galaxy central defender Omar Gonzalez tore the ACL of his left knee after he collided with fellow American Timmy Chandler in training. He is expected to be sidelined as long as nine months.
January 5, 2012 OFFSIDE REMARKS
Unbalanced schedule won't work, unfair
I have two words for Major League Soccer.
No, it's not what you think. No profanity in this column.
The words?
Single table.
December 16, 2011 OFFSIDE REMARKS
An Everton loan isn't good enough for Donovan, but a permanent move is
When I heard that Landon Donovan was going to return to Everton, I got excited.
Finally, he was going to meet a greater challenge than Major League Soccer.
November 8, 2011 OFFSIDE REMARKS
Donovan does the smart thing
I don't blame Landon Donovan pulling out of Friday's international against France in Paris.
He has got an MLS Cup final to worry about over what is essentially for him a meaningless international friendly.
July 17, 2011 OFFSIDE REMARKS
There's plenty of blame to go around
Give the U.S. National Team some credit.
The Americans won as a team in the Women's World Cup and they lost as one in the final to Japan in Frankfurt, Germany on Sunday.
July 16, 2011 OFFSIDE REMARKS
Wambach gets it, Prinz doesn't
This column is all about Abby Wambach and Birgit Prinz.
But then again, Wambach will be the first one to tell you, whether you ask or not, that it’s never about her, but rather about the team.
June 18, 2011 OFFSIDE REMARKS
No middle ground in U.S. wedding case
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Regardless what transpires in the U.S.-Jamaica CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals on Sunday, the game will be forever known as the wedding break.
June 13, 2011 OFFSIDE REMARKS
Time for doctor -- err, coach Bradley -- to find cure for U.S. slow starts
KANSAS CITY — The U.S. National Team is suffering from a well-known soccer malady called slow-start-itis.
February 23, 2011 OFFSIDE REMARKS
MLS playoff expansion doesn't make sense
You would think that after all these years that MLS would finally get it when it comes down to the playoffs.
But instead of trying to improve the system, the powers that be in the league have made it worse.
February 11, 2011 OFFSIDE REMARKS
Barcelona should be MLS all-stars' foes
The more I think of it, having Barcelona taking on the MLS all-stars in the league's annual all-star game at Red Bulls Arena certainly makes a lot of sense, even if it doesn't mean a lot of cents and dollars for the perennial Spanish powerhouse.
January 5, 2011 OFFSIDE REMARKS
Beckham's Euro saga is tiresome
David Beckham is American soccer's version of Lindsay Lohan.
No, the (former?) English international doesn't have any substance abuse problems or any questions about going into rebab.
December 4, 2010 OFFSIDE REMARKS
FIFA gets the blame for 2022
That a country such as Qatar can host the World Cup is incomprehensible, bewildering and embarrassing.
I mean, it has all of 1.7 million people (which is smaller than Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan) and not much of a rich soccer history. The oil-rich and natural gas-rich country has never qualified for a World Cup in one of the weaker confederations (Asia) in the world.
December 1, 2010 OFFSIDE REMARKS
Clinton gets a little winded at the wrong time
ZURICH, Switzerland -- It should have been a send-off with a bang with one of the great orators of the past century. Instead, it ended with a whimper.
October 25, 2010 OFFSIDE REMARKS
One writer's MLS conference realignment and playoff plan for 2011
While eight teams prepare for the MLS playoffs, yours truly will be looking ahead until next year for the next few minutes.
If I had my druthers, the league would have a single table, with the top eight teams reaching the MLS promised land. It would be simple and direct.
September 18, 2010 OFFSIDE REMARKS
Giving Scurry her due
On Sunday, the greatest women's goalkeeper in history could walk off the field one last time.
If the Washington Freedoms lose their Women's Professional Soccer playoff game to the Philadelphia Independence on Sunday, Briana Scurry will be involved her final competitive match.
June 15, 2010 OFFSIDE REMARKS
Gulati has a master plan for the U.S. to get 2018/2022 World Cup
JOHANNESBURG -- The USA Bid Committee announced last week that Morgan Freeman will join its board of directors in its quest to bring the World Cup to the United States in 2018 or 2022.
May 12, 2010 OFFSIDE REMARKS
Bradley made the decision for the team, not for Davies or the fans
When discussing his philosophy of selecting a 23-man roster for the World Cup with a select group of writers in New York two weeks ago, one quote by U.S. national coach Bob Bradley summed it up best.
"At the end of the day, decisions are made for the team," he said.
May 5, 2010 OFFSIDE REMARKS
Dealing with soccer's physics, MLS style
Just call it soccer's laws of physics No. 24:
Two events cannot occupy the same space at the same time, so you will have to find room for the other one.
April 28, 2010 OFFSIDE REMARKS
South Africa: Is the World Cup heading for a big fall or a big surprise?
NEW YORK -- As the sands trickle through to the bottom of the World Cup hour glass with the start of the anticipated kickoff match between host South Africa and Mexico some 44 days away on June 11, there is a question begging to be asked:
Is South Africa or the World Cup in trouble?
March 5, 2010 OFFSIDE REMARKS
A red card to ESPN for banishing Dellacamera to the radio for the World Cup
Imagine tuning into the much anticipated encounter between United States and England at the World Cup on June 12 and hearing English accents, but nothing with an American accent. That's what ESPN has planned for the American soccer public on June 12.
