Blog

08 May 4:00 de la tarde

It took two games for Roy Miller to become a punchline this season, but since his return to the lineup in mid-April, the New York Red Bulls have gone 4-1-0. Here's a chart that should give you some idea as to why:

Team	Crossing Open Accuracy	Crosses/Corners Accuracy
New York Red Bulls	31.21	33.02
D.C. United	27.27	30.32
Colorado Rapids	26.67	30.9
LA Galaxy	25.56	29.26
Seattle Sounders FC	25.22	27.85
Montreal Impact	25	29.27
New England Revolution	24.32	23.58
Sporting Kansas City	22.78	30.37
Chivas USA	22.76	32.92
FC Dallas	22.48	23.16
Houston Dynamo	22.31	27.66
Chicago Fire	20.65	21.05
Vancouver Whitecaps	19.72	22.58
Philadelphia Union	19.23	25.13
Portland Timbers	19.08	20.19
Real Salt Lake	18.38	22.65
San Jose Earthquakes	18.32	23.1
Columbus Crew	16.13	27.27
Toronto FC	12.71	17.47

This is not to say that Miller, alone, is the cause for New York's crossing prowess. In fact, he rates significantly lower than Heath Pearce – the "other" left back in Mike Petke's rotation – by Opta's count.

But one of the best aspects of Thierry Henry's game is his ability to drop deep on the left, find space, then curl in a right-footed cross to the penalty spot – usually aiming for the head of Tim Cahill, who still excels at making those delayed runs from central midfield.

The reason Henry has all that space? Because Miller overlaps as relentlessly as any fullback in the league, dragging defenders away from the Frenchman, creating new passing lanes, and just making it harder to defend that side of the field.

Statistics Analytics

MLS Regular Season

08 May 11:04 de la mañana

Six rencontres sont au programme de ce mercredi soir et tant le leader Dallas que ses quatre poursuivants seront sur le terrain.

Le sommet incontestable de la soirée se jouera à Frisco et mettra aux prises les deux seules équipes invaincues lors de leurs sept dernières duels, Dallas et Portland. Identique depuis quatre rencontres, le onze de départ texan va subir plusieurs modifications suite à la suspension de Jackson et à plusieurs blessures. Dallas a tout gagné chez lui cette année, Portland n’a pas encore perdu en déplacement… « et on ne nous arrêtera pas », clame Caleb Porter.

Une confrontation directe opposera deux des quatre équipes à trois points du leader : New York et Montréal, deux formations dont les jambes sont lourdes en raison d’un calendrier chargé. Mike Petke songe à laisser certains de ses défenseurs au repos alors que Marco Schällibaum continuera sa tournante mais veut surtout que ses hommes « jouent en leaders », notamment quand ils sont proches du but adverse.

À voir le classement, Kansas City, où Kei Kamara pourrait déjà jouer ses premières minutes cette saison, part largement favori contre Seattle. Mais ce dernier compte sur la forme ascendante de Rosales et Martinez pour retrouver une place plus conforme à ses ambitions. Le dernier des quatre poursuivants de Dallas, Houston (que nous avons analysé en détails dans l’émission Coup Franc de cette semaine) se déplacera à DC United.

Autres rencontres au programme de la soirée : San José, qui peut enfin compter sur Walter Martinez, accueillera Toronto, qui vient d’acquérir deux renforts en prêt, alors que New England, fraîchement renforcé par Juan Agudelo, se mesurera à Salt Lake.

LE PROGRAMME COMPLET
19h00 : DC United - Houston
19h30 : New York - Montréal
20h00 : New England - Salt Lake
20h30 : Kansas City - Seattle
21h00 : Dallas - Portland
22h30 : San José - Toronto

Classement général
Toutes les heures HE (heure de New York et Montréal)
Rendez-vous ici pour la disponibilité des matchs sur MLS Live et les diffuseurs locaux
Hors États-Unis et Canada, vous pouvez voir des matchs de MLS via ces diffuseurs

Suivre @CoupFrancMLS

League Match Lookahead

MLS Regular Season

07 May 2:11 de la tarde

Is the quest for a place in the UEFA Champions League comparable to liberating a faraway kingdom from a terrible dragon?

That might be a good question for Tottenham and US national team star Clint Dempsey, who is one of many English Premier League players taking part in “Premier League Reading Stars,” a commendable project intended to develop and encourage reading skills among children in the United Kingdom.

Deuce's favorite book? J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy classic The Hobbit, which he enthusiastically describes as “a good read” and “a story about personal growth” in a video for the project.

“It's being able to go outside the comforts of your own home, and go out into the real world and see what's out there,” said the Texan as he explained why he loves the 75-year-old tale. “And even though it's going to be tough, and it's going to be ups and downs, it's about the adventure that you would've never got if you'd never left home. Without putting yourself outside your comfort zone, you don't know what you're capable of doing.”

READ: American Exports: Dempsey's goal sparks Tottenham to massive win over Manchester City

As Dempsey narrates the harrowing adventures of Bilbo Baggins and his colleagues, it's not hard to see parallels with Dempsey's own professional journey from an unheralded rookie with the New England Revolution to USMNT captain and standout performer in one of the world's toughest leagues.

“He was able to find that he had a lot of strength inside himself and that there were a lot of things he could accomplish,” said Dempsey of Baggins. “I think it's a great story about how you find strength from within, and strength from putting yourself in uncomfortable situations sometimes and being able to prevail.”

Though he's since moved on to become Toronto FC's head coach, Ryan Nelsen is also featured in “Premier League Reading Stars” with footage recorded during his final season as a player with Queens Park Rangers.

Nelsen picked a slightly different book, one from his five-year-old son's current rotation: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.

“It just has a good buzz and wording to it, you can kind of sing it or you can read it,” said Nelsen. “My son absolutely loves it."

US National Team American Exports

07 May 1:48 de la tarde

Demonstrating exactly how the game of soccer can make a difference, the Portland Timbers joined forces with Make-A-Wish Oregon to create a very special day and helped to make Atticus Lane-Dupre's wish come true. Over 3,000 members of the Timbers Army were on hand to show their support as Atticus' Green Machine beat the Timbers in a scrimmage at JELD-WEN Field. The day began and ended with behind-the-scenes access and unique experiences for Atticus and his teammates. Learn more.

Congratulations to the Timbers!

How you can help...

To support the Children's Cancer Association's work in bringing joy to seriously ill children and their families please visit: http://joyrx.org
To support the American Cancer Society's work in transforming cancer from deadly to preventable please visit: http://www.cancer.org/
To support Make-A-Widh as they continue to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy please visit: http://wish.org/

How the Portland Timbers made a cancer-stricken 8-year-old'swish come true - Video

Portland Timbers and MLS WORKS help beautify Hosford Middle School on Earth Day - Video

Community

07 May 11:04 de la mañana

L’émission Coup Franc de cette semaine (à écouter ici) est consacrée en grande partie à Houston. Pour peaufiner l’analyse, nous vous invitons à lire le blog de Vision du Jeu, sur lequel nous nous sommes basés également et qui fournit des données et des exemples clairs.

Finaliste de la Coupe MLS ces deux dernières années, le club est-il encore armé pour jouer les premiers rôles ?
Son début de saison pas toujours convaincant, marqué par plusieurs absences d’éléments importants
Une équipe prévisible qui passe systématiquement par les côtés, est efficace en attaque posée mais manque de vitesse
Sa défense, ni particulièrement mauvaise ni particulièrement bonne, qui peine à subir le jeu
Les individualités de l’équipe qui se démarquent
On tente de comprendre pourquoi Houston est imbattable à domicile mais plus friable à l’extérieur

On ne pouvait (évidemment) pas ne pas revenir sur la victoire 6-0 de Montréal contre Toronto en Championnat canadien Amway, le changement d’état d’esprit par rapport au match aller, ses conséquences pour les deux clubs, etc.

Autre gros sujet de discussion cette semaine : le retour de Kei Kamara à Kansas City. Écoutez aussi la chanson qui lui a été consacrée lors de son séjour en Angleterre. La première période des transferts vient de prendre fin : quels sont selon vous les meilleurs renforts engagés ces derniers mois ?

L'émission Coup Franc est disponible sur Stitcher et iTunes. Vous pouvez nous joindre par courriel (coup.franc@MLSsoccer.com), sur Facebook ou sur Twitter (@CoupFrancMLS).

Suivre @CoupFrancMLS

Team Statistics Analytics Podcast Transfer

Houston Dynamo Montreal Impact Sporting Kansas City

Canadian Championship MLS Regular Season

06 May 5:05 de la tarde

The premiere of the latest American soccer documentary comes on Wednesday, May 15 (8 pm ET on ESPNU).

It's called Abby Head On and it's about — you guessed it — US women's national team star forward Abby Wambach and her rise from high school standout to international stardom.

The film is directed by Emmy award winners Erin Leyden and Gentry Kirby and it will be narrated by NFL Hall of Famer Jack Youngblood.

It will be the eighth documentary in the "Storied" series dedicated to the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Wambach bypassed other college soccer powerhouses to play for the University of Florida, and the Gators overcame none other than North Carolina in the 1998 title match.

“It’s like the first biggest thing I won," Wambach says in the documentary. "I’m a romantic when it comes to stuff so I think that getting to Florida and having the storybook ending—that was the only thing I was thinking about."

Soccer Culture Social Media

06 May 2:25 de la tarde

"What?! You don't want free Chipotle?"

That's what I imagine Kei Kamara is saying in the above photo from Monday's press conference in Kansas City to welcome the fan favorite back into the Sporting fold.

READ: SKC set to weigh offers for Kamara after Norwich City loan ends

There's a reason Kamara and his heart-shaped hands are beloved in Kansas City. He does things like offer all his Twitter followers free Chipotle.

Come one, come all. And leave your wallet at home. Kei's picking up the tab!

Dinner party at Chipotle on the plaza tonite 6:30pm. Leave you piggy bank at home and bring ya empty belly. #ChipotlePartyWithKei

— KEI KAMARA (@keikamara) May 6, 2013

Soccer Culture Social Media

Sporting Kansas City

06 May 11:02 de la mañana

Derrière Dallas, en tête avec 20 points en 9 rencontres et au repos ce week-end, on a assisté à un regroupement général avec quatre équipes qui comptent 17 unités, mais toutes n’ont pas joué autant.

Au classement « par points perdus », seul Montréal rivalise avec les Texans. Les Québécois ont néanmoins laissé deux unités à San José, déplacement difficile s’il en est, en concédant le partage 2-2 alors qu’ils menaient 0-2, ce qui n’a pas empêché l’entraîneur Marco Schällibaum de qualifier d’héroïque la prestation de ses hommes.

Une des bonnes opérations de la dernière journée a été réalisée par Houston, vainqueur 0-1 au LA Galaxy. Tally Hall a été au cœur du tournant du match, en provoquant un penalty puis en arrêtant l’envoi mièvre de Landon Donovan. Pour la deuxième fois de la saison, un coup de réparation raté par le joueur désigné américain a coûté cher à ses couleurs. Comme Hall, le gardien de New York Luis Robles a arrêté un penalty et est passé du trente-sixième dessous à Toronto à héros des siens lors de la victoire à Columbus.

La fin de semaine a aussi été excellente pour Kansas City : non seulement les Ciel et Marine ont-ils atomisé Chivas USA 4-0, mais en outre ont-ils appris le retour de Kei Kamara. On ne peut pas en dire autant de Vancouver, qui n’a plus gagné depuis sept rencontres : la sortie à Salt Lake fut tellement lamentable que Martin Rennie a exigé de ses joueurs qu’ils présentent leurs excuses aux supporters.

LES RÉSULTATS
Portland - New England
Columbus - New York
San José - Montréal
Philadelphie - Seattle
Salt Lake - Vancouver
Colorado - Toronto
Kansas City - Chivas USA
LA Galaxy - Houston

0-0
0-1
2-2
2-2
2-0
1-0
4-0
0-1

Classement général
Cliquez sur un résultat pour voir le résumé vidéo

Suivre @CoupFrancMLS

League Match Reaction

Houston Dynamo LA Galaxy Montreal Impact New York Red Bulls Sporting Kansas City Vancouver Whitecaps FC

MLS Regular Season

04 May 12:19 de la tarde

The force is strong today with the folks from KICKTV, who are celebrating #MayThe4thBeWithYou with a comprehensive look at the Galactic Champions League Semi Final. Check it out.

03 May 1:31 de la tarde

April has come to an end with an impressive array of activity on behalf of MLS clubs in their community. May is starting off strong with clubs lending a hand around their communities. On Tuesday, the New England Revolution launched a week-long auction with proceeds to benefit The One Fund Boston and LLA. On Wednesday, the Portland Timbers and Make-A-Wish Oregon held a scrimmage in front of 3,000 fans at JELD-WEN Field against The Green Machine. The match was a wish come true for Atticus Lane-Dupre, whose wish was to have his team, The Green Machine, play against the Timbers. Atticus netted four goals, one of them being the match-winning goal in the impressive 10-9 Green Machine victory over the Timbers. Find these stories and other MLS club initiatives in our weekly club highlights:

Victory Project reaches goal for local youth

SideKicks launch new autograph alley following Rapids home matches

Soccer Kickoff BBQ and Select A Seat Event at Red Bull Arena

MLSsoccer.com's Anatomy of a Goal breaks down Atticus' nutmeg gamewinner

Beckerman to appear at Friday Fan Forum at Rio Tinto Stadium

How the Portland Timbers made a cancer-stricken 8-year-old's wish come true

Chivas USA, presente en la Copa Infantil Interliga - Chivas USA, sponsor of Copa Interliga

Video: Timbers make 8-year-old cancer patient's dream come true

RECAP: Eight-year-old Atticus nets four goals to power Green Machine past Timbers 10-9