Here are the top 15 stories everyone's talking about this morning:
1. JONES LOOKS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
It’s been a difficult summer for Jermaine Jones, as injury forced him to watch from the sidelines as both the New England Revolution and the US national team stumbled in key games. Yet, with the pivotal midfielder working his way back to full strength, can he make an impact for both teams?
2. SPECTOR CALLED IN
Jurgen Klinsmann has added an extra option to his current US roster, taking the total number of players at his disposal up to 24 by bringing in Jonathan Spector for the first time in 18 months.
3. MORALES IS A TRUE INTERNATIONAL
At first glance, Alfredo Morales’ path to the US national team may seem similar to that of a number of Jurgen Klinsmann’s other German-American regulars. Yet if you look a little deeper, Morales' story certainly makes for one of the most interesting tales.
4. YEDLIN HEADS NORTH
DeAndre Yedlin is on the move, with the former Seattle Sounders star joining Sunderland on loan for the remainder of the season in the hopes of securing some much-needed playing time. Let’s just hope his time with the North East club works out better than Jozy Altidore’s did.
5. A SHORTER TRIP FOR MIAZGA
The New York Red Bulls don’t have a game this weekend, but with the club back in action a week from Friday, there’s good news for their backline. Matt Miazga is expected to return to the squad immediately following the US U23s' game against England.
6. OSORIO OSTRACIZED?
There was no place for Toronto FC’s Jonathan Osorio in the latest Canadian national team roster. Although teammate Herculez Gomez took up his cause on Twitter, national team coach Benito Floro explained why the midfielder didn’t make the cut.
7. GIOVINCO WON'T BE OUT FOR LONG
Fear not Toronto FC fans. That adductor injury that forced Sebastian Giovinco to pull out of the Italian national team squad is not that serious according to head coach Greg Vanney.
8. CREW SC HIT HARD BY INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES
Perhaps no team has been hit harder this international window than Columbus Crew SC. The team from Ohio take on FC Dallas on Sunday (7 pm ET, Fox Sports 1), but with Crew SC missing nine members of their first team, head coach Gregg Berhalter is left with some interesting decisions to make.
9. VALDEZ MAKES HIS MARK IN SEATTLE
The Seattle Sounders also must contend with some international absences. One player who hasn’t been called away is Nelson Valdez, who wasted no time making an impression upon his new team.
10. RSL NOT GIVING UP
Real Salt Lake may have slipped to the bottom of the Western Conference, but the team isn’t giving up on the playoffs just yet. Instead, they're using this weekend’s break to refocus themselves and make one final push for the postseason.
11. A RAPID RECALLED
With the Colorado Rapids entering the crucial, final stage of the season, the club continues to make moves designed to help develop their players. They've senting Marlon Hairston on loan to the Charlotte Independence for the second time this season, while also recalling Dominique Badji.
12. BEDELL HEADS TO DENMARK
While Orlando City are searching for scoring options, it seems Adam Bedell won’t be their solution. Bedell has moved around a lot this season, playing through loan spells with the Austin Aztex and Richmond Kickers during his time with Columbus Crew SC. Now, after been acquired by Orlando City in August, he will spend the rest of the year on loan with Danish side HB Køge.
13. NEMEC’S NEW CLUB
It didn’t take long for Adam Nemec to find a new club, with the now-former New York City FC player joining Dutch Eredivisie side Willem II Tilburg almost immediately after parting ways with NYCFC.
14. THE REAL VICTIMS OF BARCELONA'S SANCTIONS
While the sanctions imposed on FC Barcelona don’t appear to have affected the first team in any way, they have had a negative impact on 15-year-old academy player Ben Lederman. The young American has been unable to play a game for the side during the last year-and-a-half. However, it looks like a temporary solution has been found.
15. HOUSING THE US SOCCER HALL OF FAME
Plans are still moving ahead for a new US Soccer Hall of Fame. Despite recent interest from the Poconos in housing the facility, it looks like the new venue is still on course for Dallas, Texas.
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