Soccer Insider: September 7, 2008 - September 13, 2008
Matchnight: United-Dallas
Greetings from steamy RFK. Is it July again? Almost six months into the season, and we have the first meeting between the clubs. They'll clash again in two weeks at Frisco. The on-again, off-again negotiations concerning a possible DCU friendly against the Libyan national team in Tripoli have heated up...
By
Steve Goff
|
September 13, 2008; 5:18 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (71)
Categories:
D.C. United
Save & Share:
TV, Anyone?
Saturday's viewing guide: *England, Liverpool-Manchester United, 7:30 a.m. Setanta *England, Blackburn-Arsenal, 9:45 a.m. Setanta *England, Newcastle-Hull City, 10 a.m. FSC *Germany, Borussia Dortmund-Schalke, 11:30 a.m. GolTV *England, Derby-Sheffield United, 12:15 p.m. Setanta *England, Manchester City-Chelsea, 12:30 p.m. FSC *Spain, Barcelona-Racing, 2 p.m. GolTV *Italy, Inter Milan-Catania, 2:30 p.m. FSC *Spain,...
By
Steve Goff
|
September 12, 2008; 11:27 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (27)
Categories:
Misc.
Save & Share:
United Deals Finalized
Defender Ibrahim Koroma is in. Forward Thabiso Khumalo is in. Defender Greg Janicki is in. Midfielder Dane Murphy is out. Domenic Mediate and Jeff Carroll are done for the year. DCU sent a 2009 fourth-round draft pick to Colorado for an international slot, which was needed to accomodate Koroma. Khumalo...
By
Steve Goff
|
September 12, 2008; 4:44 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (29)
Categories:
D.C. United
,
MLS
Save & Share:
DCU Roster Moves, Injury Updates
Lots of news..... *DCU finalized loan deals today with Sierra Leone defender Ibrahim Koroma, 19, and South African forward Thabiso Khumalo, 27, and both are eligible for tomorrow night's match against Dallas at RFK. *The club has also acquired on loan Greg Janicki, 24, a 6-foot-3 defender from USL2 Pittsburgh,...
By
Steve Goff
|
September 12, 2008; 12:00 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (49)
Categories:
D.C. United
Save & Share:
Let the Day Begin
Thanks to The Call for this morning's headline. *Some thoughts on the Revolution reversing its slide with four second-half goals and a 4-0 victory over Chivas USA: -- Taylor Twellman is one of MLS's greatest career goal scorers because of his finishing touch but also for making the perfect run....
By
Steve Goff
|
September 12, 2008; 8:37 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (56)
Categories:
CONCACAF
,
College Soccer
,
MLS
Save & Share:
Questions. Answers.
Q: Will DCU make or lose money this year? A: Most MLS teams lose money. Without its own stadium, DCU loses a lot of it. Q: How many players can DCU protect in this year's expansion draft? A: I assume the rules will be the same as last winter when...
By
Steve Goff
|
September 12, 2008; 12:10 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (39)
Categories:
Q&A
Save & Share:
Slow Day? Q&A
Day of travel from Chicago, no news from DCU, national team on hiatus until the Cuba match at RFK in a month..... I'm sure you have a lot of questions. I'm sure I have a few answers. Submit 'em before 7 p.m. ET in the comments sections below. ONE question...
By
Steve Goff
|
September 11, 2008; 2:43 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (121)
Categories:
Q&A
Save & Share:
Morning Kickaround
*MLS tonight, New England aims to rebound from a pair of 4-0 defeats and get back into the Eastern Conference race when it hosts Chivas USA. The Revs are participating in Operation Soccer Ball, a humanitarian effort to spread goodwill by distributing soccer balls to children in Iraq. All fans...
By
Steve Goff
|
September 11, 2008; 9:32 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (73)
Categories:
2010 World Cup
,
College Soccer
,
MLS
Save & Share:
USA-T&T, the Aftermath
With tonight's 3-0 victory, the Americans remained unbeaten in their semifinal-round group and set an all-time program record with six consecutive shutouts (the scoreless draw with Argentina and five qualifying wins). The Cuba match Oct. 11 at RFK should secure passage to next year's final round. It will also allow...
By
Steve Goff
|
September 10, 2008; 11:58 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (71)
Categories:
U.S. men's national team
Save & Share:
Matchnight: USA-T&T
Greetings from Toyota Park. Havana on Saturday, Bridgeview today, the qualifying journey continues. You would think a semifinal-round, home qualifier in a soccer-specific stadium on a gorgeous day would draw a nice crowd regardless of the opponent. Nope. We're looking at around 10,000 tonight. That's not a typo: 10,000. Maybe....
By
Steve Goff
|
September 10, 2008; 6:04 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (99)
Categories:
U.S. men's national team
Save & Share:
DCU's African Connection
As we suspected yesterday, D.C. United is looking to Africa to bolster its roster. Club officials are confirming this report from Africa that they are about to acquire Sierra Leone defender Ibrahim Koroma as a developmental player. Koroma, 18, started for his country in Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Equatorial...
By
Steve Goff
|
September 10, 2008; 3:55 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (43)
Categories:
D.C. United
Save & Share:
Qualifying Day
I am off to Chicago for tonight's World Cup qualifier between the United States and Trinidad and Tobago. Lots of European and South American qualifiers taking place this afternoon. Please share your thoughts about those matches and participate in the USA poll. poll by twiigs.com...
By
Steve Goff
|
September 10, 2008; 12:00 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (75)
Categories:
2010 World Cup
,
U.S. men's national team
Save & Share:
Morning Kickaround
*Remember this summer when USA/Galaxy forward Landon Donovan talked about giving Europe another try? England was the most discussed possible destination, but two sources told the Insider this week that German club Bayern Munich was also interested and that early-stage discussions did take place. There were several obstacles, though, including...
By
Steve Goff
|
September 10, 2008; 9:22 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (57)
Categories:
2010 World Cup
,
MLS
Save & Share:
United Roster Status
Here's what I know: *South African forward Tabiso "Boyzzz" Khumalo (USL2 Pittsburgh) appears slated to take United's final senior roster slot, which will become available when midfielder Domenic Mediate is placed on the season-ending injury list. Khumalo is 27 and not eligible for developmental status. *The last developmental slot will...
By
Steve Goff
|
September 9, 2008; 2:56 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (66)
Categories:
D.C. United
Save & Share:
Olsen Sidelined Again
D.C. United veteran Ben Olsen, who has been limited to one appearance this year because of on-going ankle problems, will be out another four to six weeks after an infection was discovered. He underwent a procedure Friday in the the area of his left ankle where screws had been placed....
By
Steve Goff
|
September 9, 2008; 1:45 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (40)
Categories:
D.C. United
Save & Share:
Midday Kickaround
*Because of my Cuba trip, I did not get a chance to put together our weekly The Good, The Bad, The Coyote Ugly, but I did want to link to this nice goal by RSL at Los Angeles on Saturday night. Though the finish was quality, the combination work was...
By
Steve Goff
|
September 9, 2008; 11:46 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (22)
Categories:
MLS
,
World
Save & Share:
Qualifying Continued
After a big weekend of World Cup qualifying, play continues today in South America with Venezuela (2-4-1) visiting Paraguay (4-1-2). Tomorrow, however, is when things really get going again with matches all over the world, including the United States (2-0) playing its semifinal home opener against Trinidad and Tobago (1-0-1)...
By
Steve Goff
|
September 9, 2008; 10:15 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (36)
Categories:
2010 World Cup
Save & Share:
USA Lineup?
Team USA is in Chicago preparing for Wednesday's qualifier against T&T at Toyota Park. The 20-man roster remains the same. That said, what changes would you like to see Coach Bob Bradley make to his starting lineup? Cherundolo for Hejduk? Clark for Edu or Bradley? Lewis for Beasley or Pearce?...
By
Steve Goff
|
September 8, 2008; 3:05 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (77)
Categories:
U.S. men's national team
Save & Share:
Afternoon Updates
*Thabiso "Boyzzz" Khumalo, a 27-year-old South African forward who played for USL2 Pittsburgh, will continue to train with D.C. United this week and could be signed before the Sept. 15 roster deadline. "We will make final decisions in the coming days with regards to the roster," GM Dave Kasper said....
By
Steve Goff
|
September 8, 2008; 1:50 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (45)
Categories:
2010 World Cup
,
College Soccer
,
D.C. United
Save & Share:
Happy Monday
The trip back from Havana went swell. Thanks for asking. Customs in Miami didn't even bother to check bags, as they are known to do on flights from Cuba. I knew I could have snuck an Industriales baseball jersey and a case of Havana Club back into the States. Before...
By
Steve Goff
|
September 8, 2008; 7:30 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (67)
Categories:
2010 World Cup
,
College Soccer
,
MLS
Save & Share:
Morning Kickaround
*With two victories in two road matches, the USA is in fine shape to advance to the final round of CONCACAF qualifying for the next World Cup. The soccer has hardly been dazzling -- a pair of blue-collar, 1-0 victories -- but six points is six points. Said Carlos Bocanegra:...
By
Steve Goff
|
September 7, 2008; 8:07 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (45)
Categories:
2010 World Cup
,
D.C. United
,
U.S. men's national team
Save & Share:










