The first set of matches at MLS Combine always gets a bad rap. The players are nervous, they don't know each other yet, it's sloppy soccer. Blah. Blah. Blah.
We don't know what changed this year, but eight goals in two games was enough to please us. Here's what went down at Central Broward on Friday:
New coaches get acquainted
Fresh off his appointment as man in change of Montreal Impact, we got our first look at Marco Schällibaum and his new staff, along with a couple others.
Schällibaum, Joey Saputo and the rest of their staff posted up in a "viewing room" with the guys from Sporting KC. If you know anything about Peter Vermes, you know there was zero chance of him just sitting there without poking the bear a little bit. We'll leave it at that.
Caleb Porter did his best Jason Kreis impression by sitting next to Jason Kreis (photo above) and not moving for the entire session. There was a whole lot of serious going on at that bench.
Chelís is here! As you might expect, he wasn't super social, preferring to stand off to the side of the bleachers or watch from the box up above. We saw Frank Klopas meander over to the Chivas USA boss at one point, but then again, Klopas was meandering over to everyone. He's up to something down here.
The MLS Combine: Where you're always reminded you aren't a pro...yet
Following adiPrime v. adiPure, we had the chance to speak to Luis Soffner, goalkeeper for the recently-crowned College Cup champion Indiana Hoosiers. Great kid who put in a good shift for Prime, but really got shafted in the apparel department. Make no mistake, the yellow goalkeeper shirt from adidas looked good. The only problem was that where you might find a team crest, there were just three simple words:
TEAM CREST HERE (see photo on the right)
Looks like Mr. Soffner has a template on his hands this week. Extra motivation, maybe, but it still made for a good laugh.
Dillon Powers is a bad man
Remember those interviews we told you about last night? Powers was included, but we didn't really have anything to say about it because the kid gave the most measured, business-like statements we've heard since Bob Bradley. His approach on the field today was no different.
Minutes into the second match on Friday, the gallery of coaches, trainers, agents and media let out their first collective "Oooooooohhhhhh!" of the weekend. Goal of the day, no doubt:
Tomorrow is an off day for the players before round two on Sunday. Now it's off to the coaches hotel for a while, we'll let you know what we hear.
