This Thanksgiving I would like to point out the things American soccer fans should be thankful for.  So here we go:

1. I'm thankful that America is the land of opportunity that caused so many people to immigrate to the United States and bring the beautiful game with them.

2. I'm thankful for the St. Louis Amatuer Football Association which was the first organized league in the country and laid the grass roots foundation for the sport in the U.S.

3. I'm thankful for FIFA granting the U.S. Football Association full membership on August 15, 1913

4. I'm thankful for the U.S. Open Cup which kept the competitive game alive when no professional leagues existed. 

5. I'm thankful for FIFA organizing the first World Cup in 1930 hosted in Uruguay creating what would become the most popular sporting event in the world.

6. I'm thankful for the 1950 U.S. World Cup team which upset England 1-0.

7. I'm thankful for NCAA soccer and the pioneering coaches who increased the sports popularity in the 1970's and 08's which played a direct role in increasing the talent pool for the U.S national team.

8. I'm thankful for the North American Soccer League which first exposed the U.S. to soccer greats like Pele, Cruyff, and Beckenbauer. 

9. I'm thankful for Paul Caliguri scoring the "goal heard round the world" in a 1-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago clinching the USA's first appearance in the World Cup since 1950. 

10. I'm thankful for the men and women who brough the 1994 World Cup to the United States.

11. I'm thankful for the visions of men like Lamar Hunt and Phil Anschutz who invested heavily in Major League Soccer bringing back the professional game in this country.

12. I'm thankful for Major League Soccer- the simply fact the U.S. even has its own professional league even if it's not the English Premier League, La Liga or Serie A.

13. I'm thankful for the American players who currently practice their trade abroad living what I am sure is a difficult lifestyle to become better players.

14. I'm thankful that ESPN has seen the value of soccer to their programming and their broadcasts of U.S. national team, MLS, UEFA Champions League, World Cup and Euro 2008 matches. 

15. I'm thankful for Fox Soccer Channel and the Fox Football Fone-In show allowing fans to have their voice. 

16. I'm thankful for the new CONCACAF Champions League. 

17. I'm thankful for all the volunteer coaches out there who take the time to coach and develop young players. 

18. I'm thankful for all the referees out there, because without them, the organized game could not exist. 

So that's what THIS American soccer fan is thankful for.

What are YOU thankful for?

MLS commissioner Don Garber gave his annual "state of the league" address this past weekend as part of the Supporters Summit and MLS Cup festivities.

Major points from the speech are as follows:

1. No more reserve division

2. No SuperLiga-CONCACAF Champions League cross-over

3. Same playoff format and conference league structure

4. Seattle Sounders FC already have 18,000 season ticket deposits. 

Questions remaining:

1. With no reserve division how will the league's club develope their younger talent?  Will the youth player development rules change or could the USL become the proving grounds for aspiring professional players?

2. Champions League get's the turkey dinner, while SuperLiga gets MLS's scraps. Which should be more important to the league's long-term goals: a marketing initiative or a tournament where the winner represents the region at the FIFA World Club Cup?

3. Garber made his arguement for the playoffs?  Fine.  But the structure still allows clubs with mediocre win/loss records to get into the big dance.  How is this good for the league?

4. Will the expansion Sounders become the new business model for MLS clubs?

Final thoughts on MLS Cup weekend:

Former player/former LA Galaxy GM turned ESPN soccer broadcaster shot-gunned a Red Bull on live television.

During the MLS Cup presentation ceremony, Don Garber presented the new Philip Anschutz Trophy to Columbus captain Guillermo Barros Schelotto ... but the player was Frankie Hejduk. 

Play-by-play man JP Dellacamera said that MLS Cup was broadcasted in over 140 countries many of them in soccer-hotbeds. 

I wonder what their thoughts are on American soccer after watching MLS Cup 2008???

Once again the U.S men's national team will play in a World Cup qualifier that is essentially "meaningless."

The Red, White and Blue have already advanced to the next round so the squad has no pressure to get any type of result.  Head coach Bob Bradley will more than likely use this experience to get some of his greener players some invaluable international playing time.  

Tonight's match will take place in Dick's Sporting Goods Park marking the first time a World Cup qualifying match will be played at the home of the Colorado Rapids.  Keep in mind it's November.  The weather will be cold crippling the Guatemalans from the get go.  

This is who should start tonight:

---------------------- Guzan ----------------------

--- Moor --- Gibbs --- Parkhurst --- Franklin ---

--- Kljestan --- Adu --- Clark --- Thorrington ---

------------ Cooper ----------- Altidore ----------

What do YOU think???

 Player Name    Pos.     Ht.     Wt.     Birthdate     Caps/G     Hometown     Club
Adu, Freddy    M    5'8"    140    6/2/1989    11/0    Potomac, Md.    AS Monaco (France)
Altidore, Josmer    F    6'1"    175    11/6/1989    5/2    Boca Raton, Fla.    Villarreal C.F. (Spain)
Arnaud, Davy    F    6'0"    165    6/22/1980    1/0    Nederland, Texas    Kansas City Wizards (MLS)
Bornstein, Jonathan    D    5'9"    145    11/7/1984    12/1    Los Alamitos, Calif.    Chivas USA (MLS)
Casey, Conor    F    6'1"    170    7/25/1981    8/0    Denver, Colo.    Colorado Rapids (MLS)
Ching, Brian    F    6'1"    195    5/24/1978    32/10    Haleiwa, Hawaii    Houston Dynamo (MLS)
Clark, Ricardo    M    5'10"    150    5/10/1983    15/1    Jonesboro, Ga.    Houston Dynamo (MLS)
Cooper, Kenny    F    6'3"    210    10/21/1984    2/1    Dallas, Texas    FC Dallas (MLS)
Franklin, Sean    D    5'10"    155    3/21/1985    0/0    Palmdale, Calif.    Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS)
Gibbs, Cory    D    6'1"    178    1/14/1980    19/0    Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.    Colorado Rapids (MLS)
Goodson, Clarence    D    6'4"    170    5/17/1982    1/0    Alexandria, Va.    IK Start (Norway)
Guzan, Brad    GK    6'4"    210    9/9/1984    10/0    Homer Glen, Ill.    Aston Villa (England)
Kljestan, Sacha    M    6'1"    150    9/9/1985    11/0    Huntington Beach, Calif.    Chivas USA (MLS)
Mastroeni, Pablo    M    5'10"    170    8/26/1976    61/0    Phoenix, Ariz.    Colorado Rapids (MLS)
Moor, Drew    D    6'0"    170    1/15/1984    5/0    Dallas, Texas    FC Dallas (MLS)
Parkhurst, Michael    D    5'11"    155    1/24/1984    3/0    Providence, R.I.    New England Revolution (MLS)
Perkins, Troy    GK    6'2"    190    7/20/1981    0/0    Worthington, Ohio    Valerenga IF (Norway)
Pickens, Matt    GK    6'3"    200    4/5/1982    0/0    Washington, Mo.    out of contract
Rolfe, Chris    F    5'8"    145    1/17/1983    9/0    Kettering, Ohio    Chicago Fire (MLS)
Thorrington, John    M    5'8"    150    10/17/1979    2/0    Palos Verdes, Calif.    Chicago Fire (MLS)


U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Troy Perkins (Valerenga IF), Matt Pickens (out of contract)
DEFENDERS (6): Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Sean Franklin (Los Angeles Galaxy), Cory Gibbs (Colorado Rapids), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Drew Moor (FC Dallas), Michael Parkhurst (New England Revolution)
MIDFIELDERS (5): Freddy Adu (AS Monaco), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids), John Thorrington (Chicago Fire)
FORWARDS (6): Jozy Altidore (Villarreal), Davy Arnaud (Kansas City Wizards), Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas), Chris Rolfe (Chicago Fire)

Sorry folks, I know it's late ...

US Men's national team head coach Bob Bradley named his 19 man roster for domestic training in Colorado.  The team will train Nov. 12-16 at Dick's Sports Goods Park- the home of the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer.  

Following completion of camp, Bradley will name the final roster for the 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifying match against Guatemala and everyone's favorite punk/diver Carlos Ruiz (I still hate him) on Nov. 19.  The USA-Guatemala match will be the first ever World Cup qualifier hosted in the state of Colorado. 

Team USA has alreadty guaranteed advancment taking 12 points in five matches.  The other participant from the group to advance will be determined on the final matchday, as Trinidad & Tobago holds a three point lead over Guatemala. The Guatemalans will be pressing for a victory against the U.S. at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, needing a win to keep their dreams of advancement alive. T&T will be hosting Cuba on the same day.

U.S. Men's National Team Training Camp Roster
Commerce City, Colo.
Nov. 12-15

This game from MLS-Rumors.net but needs to be discussed:

Toluca's 24 year old mid-fielder, Diego de la Torre is entertaining the option to don the Red, White and Blue.

From OEM Enlinea:
Diego de la Torre es tentado por EU
Uno más que se puede ir
Óscar Clériga

El tema se convierte cotidiano. La doble nacionalidad en los jugadores que militan en la Liga de futbol, vuelve a la mesa. En esta ocasión el nombre de Diego de la Torre, del Toluca, apareció en el espectro de la Selección Nacional Mexicana y estadounidense. Decio de María salió al frente para zanjar cualquier polémica. "El utilizar a la Selección Nacional como objetivo de la doble nacionalidad, nosotros no lo vemos así, la Selección no se tiene que utilizar para asegurar la nacionalidad de los jugadores; claro que estamos atentos en cada uno de los casos, pero insisto no se puede utilizar a la Selección para asegurar la nacionalidad", sentencio.


English translation:

Diego de la Torre is tempted by the United States

Another one that may leave

The theme continues. The dual nationality of players in the Football league, is in the news again. This time the name of Diego de la Torre, of Toluca, is in the midst of the Mexican and US national teams. Decio de Maria tried to clear up any controversy."Utilizing the National Team as a means to get double nationality , we dont see it that way, you cannot use the National Team to assure your nationality;of course we are on top of each case,but I insist you cannot use the national team to assure your nationality" he concluded.

All I have to say is why not?  In fact, as I have said before, the USSF should be targeting, developing and encourage- almost begging, Latino/Hispanic players born in Los Estados Unidos to represent the country of their birth.

Who knows, some day we might get a home USA-Mexico game where more USA supporters show up than their counterparts south of the border!

U.S. Soccer.com will now offer a new device for fans in the organization's never ending efforts to provide supporters with the most in-depth coverage. A link to the analysis for the last Cuba-USA match is below.

Check it out- it's pretty cool!

http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_10584069.html

Any topics out there that USA supporters want me to write about???

The other weekend I was refereeing at one of St. Louis' main soccer complexes.  I couldn't help but observed a girls game at the next field over.  These girls couldn't have been older than U-10- I mean these girls were tiny.  Despite their extreme youth, the coaches, with clip boards in hand, were jumping and screaming to pass the ball here and pass the ball there.  Do this- do that.  The volume of their voices was enough to startle even me.  The whole time I watched these event unfold before me all I could think was: "No wonder so many kids quit playing soccer in their early teens- they get tired of being yelled at all the time!" 

Not to mention these girls are just kids, where the main emphasis should be creativity and individual ball control.  Heavy team tactics shouldn't be a priority until the U-14 age group at the earliest.  Youth development experts says soccer at the younger age groups should resemble a pick-up game more than what a fan would watch on television.  So the question remain: why isn't there more pick-up soccer opportunities out there?  

Look at the best NBA players out there such as Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, etc.  Look at their skill and creativity with a baskbetball.  Such things cannot be taugh by a coach, but are developed by the individual and the individual alone.  Basketball creativity comes from playing street ball at the local park on a hoop with a chain net- or perhaps no net at all.  No coaches, no uniforms, no referees- nothing.  Many of the world's best soccer players developed the same way- playing soccer in street alleys and local parks. 

American youth only play soccer when they're wearing a uniform and a coach is present.  The coach is usually screaming instructions having complete authority over his/her players.  No individual creativity or exploration is allowed because the kids are afraid of making mistakes and getting yelled at by the coach.  

So coaches, for the sake of the sport, put down the clipboard, lower your voice and let the kids play and have some fun.  Chances are you're not coaching Manchester United U-12's.

 The USA has already locked up advancement to the Final Round of CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying, so I say Bradley & Co. should bring some younger and fresher blood into the starting line-up.  Rest the veterans get them healthy so we can beat the turd out of Mexico when it matters!

This is what I think the starting line-up should be for tonight:

--------------------- Guzan ------------------

-- Bornstein -- Califf -- Orozco -- Wynne --

---- Adu ---- Edu ---- Torres ---- Szetela --

------------ Altidore ------ Davies ----------

Am I crazy- possibly, but this game is about as meaningful as the second leg of the the USA-Barbados match back in the summer.  

Bradley, please, for the sake of the future of the US MNT, take the youngin's out of their comfort zone!  International experience will only make them stronger.

Was anyone else super impressed by Jose Francisco Torres?  I'm loving that kid right now and I love his story.  From a marketing stand point, the USSF needs to keep this kid playing for the United States.  If he wants to play his club ball for Pachuca- that's fine, but he's a great player who was BORN IN AMERICA AND THUS SHOULD PLAY FOR THE COUNTRY HE WAS BORN IN!

The US MNT has a lack of players from Latino or Hispanic backgrounds, which is surprising given the changing demographics of our country.  The USSF cannot afford to lose a player like Jose Fransico Torres to Mexico.  

What your thoughts?