Kick Off: Bradley faces media, American at Ipswich
One of the questions to be answered on Tuesday: will Bradley bring back Kubik and the rest of his staff?
As fans await Tuesday’s noon ET teleconference call that promises to offer the behind-the-scenes of the extension of Bob Bradley’s tenure as USA manager, media reaction has been pouring in.
One writer is calling it a “marriage of convenience” given the few options for both parties.
Soccer America writes it should come as little surprise that Bradley stayed on.
Another perspective is that Bradley is now setting himself up for four more years of unfair criticism.
A comparison is made between the time it took for US Soccer to extend Bradley’s contract and how quickly they signed the current US Women’s National Team coach.
It seems that fans want Bradley to be someone that he is not, according to another columnist.
An ESPN writer gives six reasons as to why Bradley is the right choice by USSF President Suntil Gulati.
LA Galaxy manager Bruce Arena has been through this song and dance before as USA head coach. Today he has other issues with his club team. The Galaxy do not usually practice on Mondays but after another home loss on Saturday, they took to the field this week in preparation for the Chicago Fire.
The Fire were just upended by the early choice for MLS MVP in the opinion of one soccer scribe: Seattle’s Fredy Montero.
The 23-year-old Colombian and the Sounders will be seeking to advance to a second consecutive US Open Cup final by defeating Chivas USA on Wednesday in a semifinal match that is already sold out.
One player who won’t be there for the Sounders is winger Sanna Nyassi, who was called up to national-team duty by his native Gambia.
Sounders manager Sigi Schmid has been around for a while and he figured out the mathematical formula for his club to make it to the MLS postseason.
On the heels of the announcement that adidas has extended its partnership with MLS through 2018 with a specific emphasis on youth development, another MLS club will be making a homegrown player signing on Tuesday.
In Minnesota, they’re not worried about player development. They just want to find some way for professional soccer to stick around.
One Minnesota teenager has become the latest addition to the American legion abroad by signing on with Ipswich Town.
Former US youth international Sheannon Williams, who was recently on trial with the New York Red Bulls, has signed with an MLS club and could see his first action as early as Wednesday.
Speaking of player acquisitions, RBNY’s Swedish manager Hans Backe was reportedly interested in his compatriot, Anders Svensson, of Swedish club Elfsborg.
In Portland, they’re already hedging their bets on which players will remain with the club for their inaugural MLS season.
A handful of American soccer officials will not have their mind on next year, but instead on an event 12 years from now as FIFA’s inspection team has finalized its upcoming schedule to tour the US bid for the 2022 World Cup.
Elsewhere in Europe, Tuesday marks the close of the international transfer window in Europe. The pending transfer deadline move is that of Robinho from Manchester City to AC Milan. Smaller ones involve Klaas-Jan Huntelaar heading from AC Milan to Schalke 04 and David Trezeguet moving from Juventus to lowly Spanish club Hércules.
And in a rarely seen move, Atlético Madrid striker José Manual Jurado actually started in La Liga on Monday night with an impending transfer to Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga which materialized on Tuesday.
Former FC Dallas midfielder Ramón Núñez has signed with an English club.
Another ex-MLS player, World Cup forward Herculez Gomez, was recognized for his goal-scoring exploits in the last Mexican league season at an awards ceremony alongside "Chicharito" Hernández and Pablo Barrera.
As international matches are set to be played around the world, the only live TV action on Tuesday comes from South America and the Copa Sudamericana where Fox Sports en Español has a doubleheader beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Finally, sad news from New York City where a St. Lucia National Team soccer player scored a goal and was later the victim in a shooting.
MLSsoccer.com Must-Reads:
ExtraTime Radio with KC’s Davy Arnaud
The SJ captain’s curse strikes another player
FC Dallas have midfield problems to sort out
Red Bulls player gives the Heisman to his own country
Manager of Revolution’s SuperLiga foe once played in America
