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 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.

-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 Gold Cup will begin on July 4^th against Grenada. Bob Bradley and his staff can use this as an opportunity to evaluate players on the fringe of making the 2010 World Cup roster, as well as looking at young players that could play be a part of the next qualification cycle.

I have eliminated players based on the following, which the USSF should replicate:

-Players who have consistently played for their European club and played in the Confederations Cup
-All MLS players currently on the Confederations Cup roster
-Any player under consideration for the U20 World Cup

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan, Marcus Hahnemann, Troy Perkins

Guzan is a lock but needs to get more experience. Hahnemann and Perkins are the leading candidates for the third spot, and this competition could determine the front-runner.

Defenders: Clarence Goodson, Geoff Cameron, Michael Parkhurst, Michael Orozco, Heath Pearce, Marco Vidal, Steve Cherundolo

Bradley needs to sort out the back-up center defenders. Goodson has been having a great season in Norway and Parkhurst is always reliable. Cameron has anchored MLS’ best defense and would provide an attacking option from the back. Orozco should be given a further look.

Cherundolo, pending his health, needs to get some time. Orozco and Cameron can back-up if necessary. Frankie Simek is an option but is also battling injury concerns.

The left back position is the weakest in the player pool. Heath Pearce, who is currently without a club, needs to showcase his skills. Vidal, who plays for Indios, should be a given a run-out to see if he can add depth.

Midfielders: Freddy Adu, Stuart Holden, Colin Clark, Robbie Rogers, Brad Evans, Chris Pontius, Pablo Mastroeni, Dax McCarty, Santino Quaranta

The holding midfield role will be occupied by Mastroeni and McCarty. McCarty is quietly having a good season for FC Dallas.

Adu should be given the entire tournament to see what he can do as an attacking midfielder. Holden can also fill in.

The player pool is in desperate need of speedy wingers who can stretch the game for the US against certain opponents. Rogers and Clark are capable of doing that on the left side. Holden should be given the most minutes on the right side.

Strikers: Kenny Cooper, Jeremiah White, Cam Weaver, Robbie Findley

Cooper needs to have a good tournament to prove he is capable of scoring at the international level. Findley is having a good MLS season, but his sprained ankle could keep him off the roster. Weaver is a bit of a long-shot, but he can score goals and hold the ball up.

Do you see any glaring omissions? Should other MLS players be given a shot? What about some of the other European players? Comment below.

The 2009 Major League Soccer campaign is almost at the half-way point, but teams struggling have time to earn their way back into the playoff hunt.  However, some teams need to think about changing managers. These coaches are currently on the hot seat:

1. Juan Carlos Osorio – He looked like a magician last season, when he led the Red Bulls to the MLS Cup. But the Red Bulls have lost all of their confidence, losing the last six games. They have been woeful on the road, managing only to score one goal. He has tried to shake things up, sending Dominic Oduro to the Dynamo and demoting veteran goalkeeper Jon Conway. But the changes have not worked, and with a new stadium opening in 2010, Red Bull management has to be losing patience with him.

2. Schellas Hyndman – When he was appointed as both manager and technical director, many were skeptical. There was little doubt that he knew the American soccer landscape, having been a legend in the college ranks at SMU. But he has not shown the same skills at the professional level. With FC Dallas struggling to get results on the pitch and at the ticket office, a change could be imminent.

3. Frank Yallop -He led the Earthquakes to two MLS titles, before the franchise moved to Houston. However, he had an easier time to build a team from scratch that could compete for a championship right away in his previous stint with the Earthquakes. The league has changed and he is feeling the effect of it. It was understandable when the Earthquakes struggled last year, but improvements needed to be seen this season. Instead, the Earthquakes are among the worst teams in the league, with only nine points and a negative eleven goal differential.

Share your thoughts below.