Editors Note: I apologize for not keeping the blog up to date over the last few weeks. I had to attend a family reunion and had some vacation time mixed in. In addition, I got behind at my real job and had to spend most of time on a few key projects. Things have settled down and I am looking forward to writing again.

Galaxy, Rapids, Real Salt Lake, Crew, and Dynamo Record MLS Wins

The MLS weekend featured plenty of exciting action. Connor Casey recorded a hat trick and Landon Donovan scored a cracking goal. MLS Recaps: MLS Week 21 Analysis, MLS Week 21 Recap, Domestic Weekend Wrap, The Weekend in Context, Take Me Out to the Ballgame, Weekend Recap

Cooper’s goal highlights weekend for Yanks Abroad

Kenny Cooper scored in his debut for 1860 Munich, rising up for a header in the 17th minute. Charlie Davies made his debut for Sochaux and turned in a productive twenty minutes. More Yank Abroad Recaps: Americans Abroad in France and Germany,  Americans Abroad in England, Americans Abroad, Americans Abroad: Weekend Rewind, Big Debut for Cooper

Real Madrid tops DC United 3-0

The new galacticos put three past DC United in front of 72,368 punters. The fans were treated to a display of football talent. United played well in the first-half, but were outclassed in the second stanza. More: Top 5 Things I Learned in Landover, United Rewind,

Howard, US Prepare for Mexico Match

Eighteen players, including goalkeeper Tim Howard, have arrived in Miami for a brief training camp before Wednesday’s critical away qualifier. The rest of the squad will arrive shortly. Howard tells the New York Times, “We Don’t Have the Luxury of Looking Back“. Additional coverage: USA-Mexico Update, US National Team Practice Report, Howard and Bradley Talk Qualifier, Donovan Wants the Win, Quick Training Camp Notes

Altidore Secures Work Permit

Jozy Altidore has been granted his work permit and will play this season with expected relegation battlers Hull City in the English Premiership. Altidore should be given plenty of minutes for the club, which has an option to buy him after the season.

-The USMNT will be left thin for the remainder of the Gold Cup. Freddy Adu, Charlie Davies, Steven Cherundolo, and Michael Parkhurst have all returned to their respective European sides. I wrote the other day that Adu needs to return to Benfica as quickly as possible.

-Danny Szetela is heading back to MLS, where his club will be decided by the allocation order.  DC United makes the most sense. The club is high on the allocation list and has roster spots available.

-Is Bruce Arena the best manager in MLS? He will be tested with David Beckham returning, but there is little doubt the Galaxy are much improved.

-Former US youth prospect Preston Zimmerman is currently on trial with 3 Bundesliga side Jahn Regensburg.

-MLS roster moves: The Crew released midfielder Stanley Nyazamba, Ian Joy is leaving Real Salt Lake, Leo Krupnik signed with the Redbulls, and the Galaxy have added midfielder Chris Birchall.

-MLS Week 17 recaps: WVHooligan, MLS Talk

-MLS Week 17 Power Rankings: The 90th Minute, WVHooligan,  Fullback Files

-Word has come down that the Juan Carlos Osorio and the Redbulls staff are safe for now, but plans to sign youth player Dilly Duka could be derailed by MLS.

-Stuart Holden, who scored the clutch tying goal against Haiti, could be a future face for the USMNT according to MLS-Talk.

-Does signing players like Julian De Guzman hurt the league?

-Jozy Altidore has been loaded to Olympiakos, but others have refuted the report.

-Clint Dempsey has been tipped to have a good season by MLS-Talk.

-MLS Talk discusses the view so far of the Gold Cup and discusses how the roster has an Olympic feel.

What do you think of these stories? How will the USMNT lineup look for the rest of the Gold Cup? Are you looking forward to the return of David Beckham? Where do you think Danny Szetela will land? Share your thoughts below.

-Did you catch the US game? If not, read The 90th’s Minute recap of last night’s Gold Cup action. USSoccerPlayers also offers a recap and MatchFit USA writes that the kids are alright.

-Greg Seltzer over at NSC hints that Charlie Davies to Ligue 1 side Sochaux is a done deal.

-Were you witness to Kei Kamara’s tribute to Michael Jackson? If not, The Original Winger has the photograph that will is guaranteed to make you laugh.

-MLS Talk has a recap of Week 16 up that is always an interesting read.

What are your Week 16 MLS thoughts? Did you get to watch the US game last night? Are you going to watch Mexico play tonight? Share below.

There are several rumors floating around about American players either moving to Europe or changing to a different team on the continent. Anytime you change clubs, its risk vs. reward decision. I have analyzed the moves we have been hearing about.

Clint Dempsey to Everton, Spain, and a handful of other clubs

I wrote the other day that Dempsey to Everton makes sense. But there is an argument that he has improved at Fulham and will be getting regular minutes. But a move to Everton could net him a larger paycheck with a more consistent club. The only reason to leave England is to get Champions League experience.

Oguchi Onyewu to Ajax, Serie A, or France

Ajax is very serious about signing Onyewu, but Holland is not a top-flight league. Serie A would be better for his development in a World Cup year. He got his start in France, so a return would be logical. I am still holding out that a large club will realize how good he is.

Jozy Altidore to Fulham or Olympiakos

The move would be a loan and not a transfer. Olympiakos would be intriguing, but Villarreal will hold on to him for now. If Giuseppe Rossi leaves the club, then they are very thin up-front. Ultimately, Altidore will be loaned out but not until August.

Michael Bradley to Everton, Aston Villa, or Fulham

He should establish himself as a regular starter with Gladbach before looking to leave. However, Everton have been persistently interested in him. The Premiership would fit his style of play better, but it would not help with his questionable decision making regarding tackles.

Charlie Davies to a French or Netherlands club

He needs to climb up the European ladder slowly. A move to the Eredivisie for a couple of seasons would be smart. A club like Ajax or FC Twente would do wonders for his development.

Ricardo Clark to Rennes

He is in comfortable position with the Dynamo but needs to move abroad. He does not have the frame to play a holding midfielder in England, so a move to Ligue 1 would suit him better.

Heath Pearce to Randers, Austria, Bundesliga 2

He would be wise to return to Scandinavia.  He needs regular time to get his career back on track. A move to Austria makes little sense. It will be interesting to see where he winds up.

Where do you think these players should go? Should Clark leave MLS for Europe? Should Bradley leave before locking down a starting spot? Where should Davies go? Share your thoughts below.

The US will open its Gold Cup title defense tomorrow, when it hosts Grenada in Seattle. The Americans, coming off a run to the Confederations Cup final, will field a ‘B’ squad for the tournament, at least in the group stage of the competition.

The starting goalkeeper for the US will likely be Troy Perkins, who plays for Valerenga in Norway. Luis Robles, who was on the Confederations Cup roster, and Jon Busch are the other options. Perkins is an educated guess, as Bob Bradley has not tipped who will be between the pipes.

The defense should be a little more straight forward, at least at the fullback positions. Steve Cherundolo and Heath Pearce will occupy those spots. The center defense is not as clear. Some combination of Jimmy Conrad, Chad Marshall, Clarence Goodson, and Michael Parkhurst will be on the pitch. Conrad and Goodson would make an interesting pair.

If Bradley sticks with a 4-4-2 and a pair of dual central midfielders, then Kyle Beckerman and Stuart Holden in the middle would make sense. Sacha Klejstan could also play since he has been added to the roster and Chivas USA does not have a game this weekend. Logan Pause would be another option.

Robbie Rogers is a pretty safe bet to start on the left wing, with Colin Clark being the other option. The right wing could be occupied by Santino Quaranta, Brad Davis, or Holden could slide out. Freddy Adu could be floated out wide as well, but Bradley could also slot him as a striker.

Charlie Davies will get the start up-top. He will be playing with a true target in either Brian Ching or Kenny Cooper. Davies could really benefit by getting on the end of flicks from his partner. Cooper and Davies would be intriguing.

Do you see Bradley sticking with the 4-4-2 that worked well in the Confederations Cup? Or will he mix up his tactics and use a 4-3-3? Who do you want to see start? Share below.

Before the US begins its next international competition, let’s take one final look at the Confederations Cup. Below are the player grades for the tournament, which takes into consideration all five games. The grades:

Goalkeepers

Tim Howard - He deservedly won the Golden Gloves for the tournament. He was huge in the semi-final and final. He established himself as one the top goalkeepers on the planet. Grade: A

Brad Guzan – He only played in one match but had a good showing against Egypt. He firmly claimed the backup role for 2010. Grade: B

Defenders

Oguchi Onyewu – He had a little extra motivation, looking to earn a contract with a big club in Europe. He was the rock of the defense and won almost every ball in the air. His only fault was not being more dangerous on attacking set-pieces. Grade: A-

Jay DeMerit -He had an excellent tournament and elevated his status as a fringe player to a lock. A move the Premiership would bolster his chances of starting alongside Onyewu for 2010. Grade: B

Jonathan Spector – He turned the right back position into a competition and established himself as the front runner.  Regular time will benefit his cause. He could shift over and partner with Onyewu to form an interesting pair. Grade: B+

Carlos Bocanegra – He impressed in the Spain game but struggled against Brazil. His biggest problem is lack of holding the ball, when he just clears instead of looking to build. He is still the best option at left back. Grade: C+

Jonathan Bornstein – He proved to be a serviceable left back at the international level. But he did nothing to standout and had some break downs defensively. Never-the-less, he is a versatile player who probably did enough to earn a spot. Grade: C

Midfielders

Michael Bradley – He had moments of brilliance but also showed immaturity. His work ethic and play attracted interest from major European scouts. However, he must show more discipline at the international level. Grade: B-

Ricardo Clark – He recovered from his early red card and had an incredible game against Spain. He will most likely be on the 2010 roster, but a move to Europe will help his development. Grade: C+

Benny Feilhaber – He is back after dropping off the radar and showed the most skill on the ball. He proved he could be an effective two-way midfielder at this level. Grade: B-

Clint Dempsey – He started the tournament out horribly, but was a different player the last three games. A much needed rest will help for the qualifiers, and a proposed move to a bigger club will be beneficial. Grade: B-

Landon Donovan – He was the best field player for the US, and should have won the Bronze Ball. He showed that a MLS player can excel against the world’s best. Grade: A

Sacha Klejstan – He is struggling with confidence and this tournament did nothing to booster it. He needs to get out of his funk. Grade: D-

DaMarcus Beasley – Sadly, his days are likely done for the national team. He is still young enough to contribute, but injuries and lack of playing time have slowly taken a toll. Grade: F

Forwards

Jozy Altidore – He scored with great individual effort, but that was his only goal. His recent injury and lack of playing time showed, as he was usually spent by half-time. He needs to get regular first team football. Grade: B-

Charlie Davies – He is another player who improved his status from fringe to nearly a lock. His speed created all sorts of problems for opponents. Hopefully, he will break-out in the Gold Cup and move to a larger club. Grade: B

Connor Casey – He has been scoring goals and that warranted a call-up, but he played himself off the World Cup squad. He was lethargic and was never dangerous, which is not a good combination for a striker. Grade: D

Are these grades fair? Which players improved their stock? Which players should not be on the World Cup roster? Share below.

The US played a hard-fought game against Brazil in the Confederations Cup final. Unfortunately,  tired legs and some questionable coaching decisions led to a heartbreaking loss. But the US proved that they could play with world’s best when the spotlight is on. Here are the ratings:

Tim Howard [9] – He was fantastic. He made excellent save after excellent save. There was not much he could do on any of the goals. But he may have been able to get the third one. The back post is his responsibility if he does not assign a defender.

Jonathan Spector [8]  He made several good defensive plays and hit another great cross that led to Clint Dempsey’s goal. He showed some fatigue at the end, but it was probably the result of playing every minute and not being match fit coming into the tournament.

Jay DeMerit [7] – He made some big defensive plays in the first half and had a critical tackle late while the game was still tied. But he allowed way too much space on the first Brazil goal.

Oguchi Onyewu [8] – He won everything in the air as usual. He did a better job looking to possesses and not boot the ball up-field. He needed to put his header on target in the 88th minute.

Carlos Bocanegra [5] – He drew an early caution on a questionable decision to hold back Kaka. He just knocked the ball up-field with little pressure instead of looking to possess the ball. He could have redirected the cross on the second goal.

Landon Donovan [9] – He worked hard throughout the entire match. He began the counter-attack by running into his space and then used his speed and precision to finish the second goal. He created chances and was not afraid to look for a shot.

Ricardo Clark [6] – He turned the ball over too easily but had the pass to Donovan that sprung the counter-attack. He forced passes in the second half, instead of knocking the ball around to try to keep possession.

Benny Feilhaber [7] – He did a good job filling in for Michael Bradley, but looks more comfortable in an attacking role. He was a little careless with his tackles but worked hard to get back and defend. He held the ball for too long in the attacking third.

Clint Dempsey [7] – He had the early goal but disappeared for long stretches of the match. He was willing to take shots if he had space. He could have marked up better on the header that led to Brazil’s third goal.

Jozy Altidore [6] – He had a quiet match. He did draw a free kick with a nice turn on the ball. Fatigue was an issue, and he looked exhausted in the second half.

Charlie Davies [7] – He did well to get forward and setup the second goal for Donovan. He showed energy by getting back and defending. But he tried to force the attack in several situations, which resulted in turnovers.

Sacha Klejstan [5] – He continues to struggle with his confidence. He gave the ball way too easily. He made a bad pass after the US had gained possession in the closing minutes.

Jonathan Bornstein [5] – He showed impatience on the ball and failed to hold possession.

Connor Casey [NR] – He was not on the pitch long enough to generate a rating.

Are these ratings fair? Who was your man of the match? What did you think of the game, now that you have had time to reflect back on it?

-As the Confederations Cup coverage wraps up, the Fullback Files post lessons from Africa, as does Yanks-Abroad. Nick Green, of 100% Soccer, writes that attitude will result in victories for the US.

-There are several rumors flying around about USMNT players on the move. Soccer y Futbol says that the Dynamo and MLS have not been contacted about Ricardo Clark. Jason Davis, over at Match Fit USA, runs down the rumors. Meanwhile, Charlie Davies sits down and talks about his future with Yanks Abroad.

-If you were wondering why Jose Francisco Torres is not on the Gold Cup roster, he is in much need of a rest after a long year.

-Soccer Insider asks so what if Edgar Castillo is interested in playing for the US? I posed the question if he is serious about playing for the US.

-Pavel Nedved, of the Czech Republic and Juventus, is interested in MLS according to his agent. New York would make sense, if not for that atrocious turf.

-The Red Bulls are continuing to shake things up and have brought a couple of new players in for an evaluation.

-MLS Week 15 power rankings: WVHooligan, The 90th Minute, Fullback Files

-CONCACAF will no longer send teams to Sudamericana, South America’s second-rate club competition. The move will allow CONCACAF teams to concentrate on the Champions League. A future meeting will decide teams’ participation in Copa Libertadores. The Goal Soccer blog has more.

-The Colorado Rapids inked former Crewe defender Julien Baudet. The Rapids team blog posts a question and answer session with the newest signing.

What are your final thoughts on the Confederations Cup? Do you think Clark should move abroad? What about CONCACAF’s decision to pull the plug on the South American tournaments? Share your thoughts below.

The US announced its Gold Cup roster on Thursday. The roster is a mix of veterans who are trying to earn their place back, young players getting a look for depth, and a couple of roster fillers who have no future with the USMNT.

The other day, I posted who I would like to see selected for the Gold Cup. Twelve of the twenty-three players were selected from my list. The most disappointing names left off are Marco Vidal, Geoff Cameron, Chris Pontius, and Jeremiah White. It is possible Vidal may have declined a call-up and White is preparing for the start of his season in Denmark, but Cameron and Pontius should have been added.

Goalkeepers: Jon Busch, Troy Perkins, Luis Robles

There is no clear starter in this group. One approach would be to give each player a start in the group stage. Robles is likely the first choice, since he has been training with the ‘A’ team in South Africa.

Defenders: Steve Cherundolo, Jimmy Conrad, Clarence Goodson, Jay Heaps, Chad Marshall, Michael Parkhurst, Heath Pearce

A couple of veterans will attempt to earn their starting spots back in Cherundolo and Pearce. There is a glut of center backs, all fighting for minutes. Conrad is a pleasant surprise, since he has not been with the team since 2007. The biggest disappointment is Jay Heaps. Better left-back options were available.

Midfielders: Davy Arnaud, Kyle Beckerman, Colin Clark, Sam Cronin, Brad Evans, Stuart Holden, Logan Pause, Robbie Rogers

The group is a mix of MLS veterans and youngsters. Clark and Rogers will split time on the left wing, while Evans and Holden will feature on the right side. The question is who will play in the middle. Cronin is a good addition and worth a look. Beckerman is the best of the remaining, but he plays a similar role to Cronin.

Forwards: Freddy Adu, Brian Ching, Kenny Copper, Charlie Davies, Santino Quaranta

The forwards will be the strength of the squad. Ching and Davies are locks for 2010, barring injury. Cooper will try to prove that he can score goals outside of MLS and Adu will get meaningful minutes.

What do you think of Bob Bradley’s selections? Did he leave anyone off that deserved a chance? Were you surprised some of the players chosen? Share below.

The US will play Brazil today in the Confederations Cup final. They have already faced Brazil in this tournament, losing 3-0. But this game is expected to be different, as they have been playing with more poise and grit since the embarrassing defeat.

The Americans will need to put pressure on the Brazilian defense during the first twenty minutes of the match. This will force them to respect the US’ attack and not throw as many bodies forward. One difference from the first game is that the US will lineup with two forwards, which should help keep the Brazilian fullbacks at home.

The US backline, bolstered by the return of Carlos Bocanegra, was outstanding in the 2-0 win over Spain. The unit will need to play even better today. Bocanegra did not get forward much and essentially set-in as the third center back. Expect more of the same. Jonathan Spector will likely provide an option to the attack, but he will need to be careful to not get caught out of position.

The midfield will need to replace its engine, Michael Bradley. He was sent off in the 87th minute of the semi-final.  Benny Feilhaber will likely get the start and pair up with Ricardo Clark. Feilhaber will need to play both ways, something he proved capable of the last two matches.

Landon Donovan will need to orchestrate the attack and exploit open space in the midfield. Clint Dempsey will need to continue to open things up with his through-ball ability. Both players are also expected to share in the defensive responsibilities.

Jozy Altidore and Charlie Davies will benefit from having both Dempsey and Feilhaber in the midfield. Brazil will have to adjust to the strength of Alitdore and the pace of Davies. The forwards will need to finish any opportunities presented.

The Americans are playing with house money at this point, but a win over Brazil would set the table for next summer. They are playing with passion and confidence, with wins over Egypt and Spain to show. If the US can get the first goal, its theirs to lose.

Prediction: US 2 Brazil 1

How do you think the US will do? What are your keys to the game? Share below.