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.

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.

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.

Clint Dempsey, winner of the Bronze Ball at the recent Confederations Cup, has been linked with a move to Everton. He would be wise to switch allegiances to the Merseyside club. Everton has been the model of consistency in the English Premier league.

Dempsey seems to be the type of player that manager David Moyes likes to employ. He is a hard worker who plays with a chip on his shoulder. He is capable of finishing at a pretty good rate. While he is not a target striker, he has proven he can score goals in the air. He has also shown the ability to excel when the spotlight is on.

Moyes would most likely deploy Dempsey as a striker, alongside Yakubu. He would be competing with injury-prone and aging Louis Saha for minutes. Victor Anichebe is rumored to be on the way out. Dempsey could also be plugged in at right midfielder.

With Everton’s limited budget but desire to compete with the big four in the EPL, a player like Dempsey makes perfect sense. He rarely suffers from injuries or form problems and has the ability to play multiple positions.

Everton is also rumored to be interested in signing Michael Bradley and was linked with Jozy Altidore last season. It could become a destination for top American players.

Do you think this is a smart move for Dempsey? Would he fit in well with Everton? Is the just beginning of American players heading to the Merseyside? Share your thoughts below.

The United States looked spectacular in the first half against Brazil. The Americans attacked with fluidity and had their opponents constantly making poor decisions. However, a quick goal out of the half changed everything and once again Bob Bradley failed to adjust.

The US dropped into a shell after Brazil scored the first goal, which it simply could not do. Instead of responding by bringing in a substitution to add creativity to the field, Bradley continued to let his side sink deeper into a shell. The Brazilians were allowed time and space, and it was just a matter of time before they broke the defense down.

The US managed to bunker and hold the lead against Spain, but Brazil is too good for that strategy to work. They are a more a creative side that is capable of figuring out different ways to score. They scored the first goal by simple brilliance. On the second, they were allowed space down the flank and then outworked the tired US. The third goal was off a set-piece against a disorganized defense.

The substitutions were also puzzling. After Brazil tied the game, Bradley sent in Jonathan Bornstein for Benny Feilhaber that was clearly a defensive move. He also replaced Jozy Altidore with Sacha Klejstan, a player who showed nothing in the first game against Brazil and is lacking confidence. Sure enough, Klejtstan would turn the ball over and show no offensive spark. Bradley significantly reduced the American firepower.

After Brazil took the lead, he needed to insert a player to add a creative spark, create chances, and bring energy. Instead he inserted Connor Casey, by far the most lethargic player on the team. Casey should be brought on to help kill of a game, not in a desperate situation when you have to score a goal.

Bradley has shown some positive coaching traits. His tactical organization before the game should rarely be brought into question. But he has to improve his in-game decisions. It is a shame to see a tremendous effort undermined by a poor coaching effort.

What did you think of Bradley in this match? Should he have responded earlier? Are you puzzled about his substitutions? Share your thoughts 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.

The US has faced four different teams in the 2009 Confederations Cup. But after many questionable decisions against the US, one has to wonder if they have played five opponents. Whether subconsciously or not, referees have not consistently enforced the laws of the game and have discriminated against the American players.

The Americans have been shown a red card in three of the four matches. The first two ejections were for late tackles and the last send-off was for a studs-showing challenge.

FIFA wants to draw a line in the sand and send a message that any sort of tackle that endangers an opponent will not be allowed in next year’s World Cup, which is fine. But it must consistently enforce that ruling.

There have been many instances were tackles were not punished in the same manner. In the other semi-final, a South African player tackled an opponent with a late, studs-up challenge. The referee only presented a yellow card. In the US-Spain game, Fernando Torres kicked out at Jonathan Spector and Jozy Altidore took a late challenge into the ankle. Neither player received a caution.

Why do the referees discriminate against the US? FIFA has told them to enforce late challenges and stud showing tackles with red cards. It gets simple after that. The refs refuse to create a controversy by consistently enforcing the rules against the world powers and the host country.

Whether we like it or not, soccer is not mainstream here. All of the red cards went virtually unnoticed by the media. The red card shown to Bradley was forgotten due to the win and has not been discussed in any of the major media outlets. It is a perfect situation for referees. They can send a message without creating much of an uproar.

Do you think the US is being treated unfairly? What can the USSF due to prevent this at World Cup 2010? Comment below.

-While the victory over Spain is still fresh on our minds, the matter of deciding the Confederations Cup is still on the table. Soccer By Ives asks who should start against Brazil.

-MLS Week 15 Previews: Soccer By Ives, WVHooligan, 90^thMinute

-Jason Davis, of Match Fit USA, writes that MLS must take advantage when the USMNT is playing well.

-Soccer Insider is reporting that Greece powerhouse Olympiakos is interested in Jozy Altidore.

-The Montreal Impact are making a strong push to be included in MLS by 2011.

-ESPN has released their ESPY candidates for Best MLS Player: Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Landon Donovan, Jon Busch, Juan Pablo Angel, and Kenny Cooper. The US victory over Spain was also nominated, as the upset of the year.

What are you looking forward to about Sunday’s final? How should MLS ride the wave of the USMNT’s success? Should the Impact join in 2011? Who gets your vote for the ESPY? Share below.

The  US shocked the world on Wednesday, with a 2-0 win over Spain. The Americans used a combination of discipline, effort, and all-around solid play to defeat the Spaniards, ranked number one by FIFA. The ratings:

Tim Howard [9] – He was steady and made several correct decisions to parry instead of attempting to catch difficult shots. He set the tone with an important save in the beginning of the second half. He came off his line well, but his distribution was shaky at times.

Jonathan Spector [8] – He continues to impress. He did have a shaky moment early, when a bad touch led to a chance. But he stayed composed on the ball and made smart decisions on when to attack. He helped kill the game by staying compact and closing-down well.

Jay DeMerit [9] – He was the man of the match. He had several clutch tackles, and he threw his body around to block shots.

Oguchi Onyewu [9]- He was dominant in the air and quickly covered ground to thwart the attack. He was crtical down the stretch.

Carlos Bocanegra [8] – He positioned himself well. He helped to keep the back line composed. However, he did not get forward in the attack much and had an embarrassing foul throw.

Clint Dempsey [8] – His finish was pure effort. He opened the game up early with a long shot and combined well with teammates to set-up chances. He defended when called upon.

Ricardo Clark [9] – He ran with the ball well in the midfield, which helped to relive pressure off the back line. But he was everywhere on defense. He blocked at least three shots and was amazing in the closing minutes, highlighted by a bicycle clearance.

Michael Bradley [6] – His red card was unfair, but he has to show more discipline. He worked hard to pressure the ball in the midfield. He failed to connect on several through-balls.

Landon Donovan [8] – He put in another excellent, work-man type effort. He played box to box , and his set pieces were dangerous.

Charlie Davies [7] – He looked spectacular in the first twenty-five minutes. His bicycle kick would have been amazing. His pace caused problems, but he needs to work on his crossing.

Jozy Altidore [8] – He had a great individual effort on the goal, by using his strength to shield and then calmly converting. He won two corners and was a nuisance the entire match.

Benny Feilhaber [8] – His patience to hold the ball-up led to the run that created the second goal. He was smooth on the ball and worked hard to defend in the closing minutes.

Connor Casey [6] – He helped to kill some time, but should have held the ball in the corner.

Jonathan Bornstein [NR] – He was not on the pitch long enough to evaluate, but did block a shot late.

What did you think of the US’ historic performance? Who was your man of the match? Share your thoughts below.