Brek Shea Move Snubbed: Does the MLS Hold its Best Players Back?

Posted on January 25, 2013 by nrspiller@gmail.com

Brek Shea has all the makings of a fantastic Premier League forward, and could well become an extremely valuable player for the United States National Team. With an impressive 6’3” frame and great speed, the 22 year old could fit in well with both the physical and high-speed nature of English soccer. After completing a weeklong trial at Stoke City, the player is set to return to FC Dallas without a move following a failure of a deal being arranged with the MLS. Apparently, Stoke manager Tony Pulis offered just $3 million and the MLS refused the deal.

The idea of Shea moving to the Premier League is rather surprising at this time. Although the player has made waves and received several national team call-ups, he had a rough MLS season and required surgery in November. Just coming back into playing, perhaps a move to Stoke City, which demands heavy physicality isn’t the best move for the player. Another season with Dallas could perhaps re-invigorate his career and help the MLS claim a higher transfer fee for the player.

When one considers that Brek Shea has a similar style and game to someone like Marouane Fellaini, one could make the argument that Shea is worth far more than $3 million, but this situation also exposes a general trend of the MLS holding American players back from successful European careers.

The debate is a challenging one to find a good answer for. American soccer is seemingly caught in two minds. One group wants to expand the MLS to become one of the best leagues in the world and celebrates the inclusion of stars like Thierry Henry, David Beckham, and Robbie Keane to American teams. These people are the ones that wish for the best American players to stay at MLS clubs so that soccer continues to develop on home soil.

Such situations have enfolded where players like Landon Donovan have been greatly withheld from moving abroad to European clubs. He has experienced loan moves to Bayern Munich and Everton, but was never allowed to secure a full transfer. His spells at Everton were very successful and led to him being named the Everton Player of the Month at one point, but the MLS and LA Galaxy restricted a permanent transfer.

The worry here is that I feel that Donovan’s career was held back. The MLS is no comparison to the talent level in England, and as such one could argue that the American National Team suffered because one of their best players was limited in his growth.

A similar thing could happen to Brek Shea. He is clearly a top prospect in the MLS and could become a focal point of the USA attack in the next five years. There is no doubt in my mind that he would benefit greatly by moving to a team like Stoke City in advancing his development and career. The USA National Team would benefit as well. This is the argument of the other view, that moving America’s best players abroad will help the National Team find more success as players play in more competitive leagues.

So where does the current situation reside? It seems as though Shea will at least spend this year in the MLS with FC Dallas, but if he performs well I would love to see him secure a move to Europe. I think the success of the National Team is more important than the MLS and having our players succeed abroad is instrumental for America competing on the global scale. Let’s just hope that the MLS can sort out a move with Shea for a more reasonable fee this summer.

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Chris Wondolowski the Best MLS Player of 2012. Where Does His Future Lie?

Posted on December 14, 2012 by nrspiller@gmail.com

Although the Los Angeles Galaxy earned the MLS Cup Championship this year after defeating the San Jose Earthquakes in the Playoffs, the player of the year award rightly was given to Chris Wondolowski, who scored an incredible 27 goals on the season, tying him with Roy Lassiter, who managed the feat over a decade ago. Wondolowski’s hard work brought a Supporters Shield to the San Jose Earthquakes, who led the MLS with 66 points on the season.

Chris Wondolowski’s impressive 2012 should not really come as much of a surprise to American soccer fans. In both 2010 and 2011, Wondolowski nearly put up 20 goals, and he has found the best form of his life in his late 20’s. Currently at age 29, one must presume that the striker is playing at or near his peak abilities. What surprises me about this player, however, is the rare opportunities he has been given to represent America with the national team.

Chris Wondolowski has been overlooked and un-favored to other Americans like Jozy Altidore and Hercules Gomez. Considering how hard goals have been to come by for the American team, one would presume that Chris Wondolowski would be given a chance, especially given these recent performances for his club, where he has scored at a rate of nearly a goal per match.

He has received several call-ups by American head coach, Jurgen Klinsmann, but he has only received one substitute appearance in a friendly against Canada. Incredibly he hasn’t been given much of an opportunity to impress for the country. He did play in the MLS All Star game against Chelsea of the English Premier League, where he scored a goal against a world-class defense that featured former England captain, John Terry.

Terry actually complimented Wondolowski after the match, stating that it was a nightmare trying to defend against the talented soccer player. When someone of that stature expresses his difficulties in playing against the player, why would he not have attracted more attention from the national team?

One option that I think would be a huge benefit for Chris Wondolowski would be for him to perhaps make a transfer move to Europe, possibly to an English Premier League club. At age 29, it would be a difficult time to move to such a prestigious league, but if he could secure a move and impress abroad, perhaps he could earn himself a trip to the 2014 World Cup with America. Surely, he must have such dreams and is probably in a quandary as to why he cannot seem to get a real chance at the international level.

The rest of the San Jose Earthquakes let Chris Wondolowski down in this off-season when they let a Galaxy team come in and outclass them. I think that the player should try and push for such a move and that it could really propel him to the next level. Although the Earthquakes would be very sorry to see him leave their team, it is a move that would be in the best interest of American soccer as a whole and for Wondolowski to prove himself at the top level of the sport.

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The Top 5 Soccer Stars Who Could Move to America and the MLS

Posted on December 7, 2012 by nrspiller@gmail.com

With the MLS bidding adieu to English soccer legend and celebrity, David Beckham, focus must return to how America can improve its professional league of soccer. Clearly, Beckham’s arrival helped spur other international stars to move here like Thierry Henry, Robbie Keane, and Tim Cahill; all heroes abroad in their respective homelands of France, Ireland, and Australia. So with the MLS focused on adding more veteran international star-power to their ranks, who is the next big name to make the trans-Atlantic journey to America? Here are my top 5 players that would be likely to come here in the near future:

1. Kaka – The Brazilian superstar has fallen hard since he won the 2007 Ballon d’Or, given to the best player in European soccer. Winning the UEFA Champions League that year, Kaka soon moved to Real Madrid in 2009 but injuries slowed down his career. Playing under legendary manager Jose Mourinho, Kaka has been relegated to a bit-part player in the side behind others like Cristiano Ronaldo, Angel De Maria, and Mesut Ozil. Kaka’s agent has mentioned the MLS as a “dream” for the player and he may soon be headed to the Galaxy to replace the departing Englishman.

2. Frank Lampard – The former creative genius at Chelsea has now been usurped by the likes of Eden Hazard, Juan Mata, and Oscar, three creative forces that are still improving while Lampard at 34 wastes away on the bench. He needs to move to a new club to find playing time, and although he could probably play for a lesser Premier League club and make an impact, he could earn far more money through the MLS and America. With the January transfer window opening next month, he could be in America very soon.

3. Didier Drogba – The Ivory Coast soccer sensation reportedly rejected a record $10 million dollar deal with the MLS last summer and chose to join the Chinese league with the club Shanghai Shenhua. However, there were all sorts of boardroom issues with club and he was reported to go on strike during the season. Although he aims to return next season, the MLS could swoop in and make a strong argument for the player. Bringing star power and prestige from his dominating style and impressive displays in leading Chelsea to the Champions League trophy last season, Drogba would be the ideal candidate for American soccer to pursue.

4. Wesley Sneijder – The Dutch maestro has built a solid career at clubs like Real Madrid and Inter Milan. Additionally, he scored five goals in the 2010 World Cup, helping the Netherlands reach the final where they lost to Spain in extra time. Sneijder has come under fire in Italy for refusing to take a significant pay cut and has been rumored in a move to Manchester United for years. At 28, he still has a long career ahead of him. His wife is an actress though, and the possibility of him moving to Los Angeles has been discussed. This move may be several years down the road, but is certainly a possibility.

5. Zlatan Ibrahimovic – The physically imposing Swedish striker is at the peak of his powers. Recently signed to Paris Saint-Germaine, the next big-spending super club, he has been scoring incredible goals at an impressive rate. He has played for a whole host of big clubs like Barcelona, Inter Milan, and AC Milan. Additionally, he has mentioned a possibility of ending his career in the MLS, and he would be a fantastic addition for the league. However, since he has just joined PSG and is still playing at such a high level, this move may be put off for some time.

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2012 MLS Cup Preview: Beckham and the LA Galaxy take on Brad Davis and the Houston Dynamo

Posted on November 28, 2012 by nrspiller@gmail.com

The MLS Cup occurs on Saturday and will be dominated by the news that it is likely to be David Beckham’s final match for the LA Galaxy. You may have even noticed that I wrote an article about that very matter in last week’s post, but besides the fact that this could be Beckham’s last game and all, there is a serious match on the field for the other 21 players on the same field too. The game will decide the MLS Champions of 2012, and brings especial intensity due to the fact that it is a rematch of last season’s final that the LA Galaxy won 1-0 due to a Landon Donovan goal.

The Galaxy is the heavy favorite for this game. They boast all the big name players including Beckham, Donovan, and Robbie Keane. Also, the match is being played at the Galaxy’s home stadium, the Home Depot Center. Therefore, the Houston Dynamo will have seemingly everything against them in this match, though I personally believe that they will rally around that exact point.

Both teams were lowly seeded in the MLS Playoff tournament, and had to play tricky wildcard matches in the first round. Defeating the likes of Sporting Kansas City, the San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders, and DC United, both teams proved that they were the strongest of their conferences and have earned the right to play in this MLS Cup.

Houston has developed a very powerful team that won back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007. Their final appearance last season was evidence of their more recent success, but they had to play that match without the injured Brad Davis. The playmaker earned 12 assists and 8 goals this year and should be a factor if the Dynamo earns the win. The team has a veteran striker in Brian Ching as well.

However, I think the defensive side of this team will be the difference in the game, specifically the goalkeeping of Tally Hall. The keeper is very solid and will be able to stop the likes of Beckham’s spicy shots on the goal.

Many fans will be hoping to witness a final David Beckham “special” free kick that swerves into the net and allows the soccer star to depart the MLS as a MLS Cup winning hero. But, I think it will not happen this time. The Galaxy won the trophy last season, so Beckham has nothing left to prove. Similarly, another of the team’s star players also has a serious off-field concern in Landon Donovan’s voicing of retirement thoughts before the playoffs began. Although that interview did little to prevent the team from pushing through the MLS Playoffs, I do think this game may be a bit too highly anticipated for the team because of reasons other than soccer.

The Houston Dynamo, on the other hand, resembles a real team with hunger for revenge and I would be surprised to see them back down from the challenge. Therefore, I am predicting a tough 1-0 victory for the Dynamo with a David Beckham free kick clanging off the crossbar in stoppage time, preventing him from leaving a last mark on American soccer.

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David Beckham To Depart from LA Galaxy after MLS Cup Final: What is Next for the Superstar and Club?

Posted on November 24, 2012 by nrspiller@gmail.com

The David Beckham experience is nearly over. The legendary British midfielder announced that he would be taking his trade elsewhere after the MLS Cup Final match on December 1^st, which will be his last game for the club. Beckham has enjoyed a reasonably successful stint with the LA Galaxy, scoring 18 goals and notching 40 assists. Also, he helped the team to an MLS Cup trophy last season and could very possibly help earn another next weekend. But the question now becomes, where does Beckham move on to now, and how will the Galaxy fare without their most prestigious player?

For Beckham, he seems to want one last notch on the old belt before his inevitable retirement. At age 37, his best years are now long gone, and although his deft right foot is still capable of wreaking havoc for defenders and goalkeepers, his legs are otherwise aged and weary. He was a decent player for the Galaxy, but I would argue that he was never the superstar figure that MLS officials envisioned when they brought him to LA in 2007.

One option that seems to be up for Beckham is to join the free-spending French team, Paris Saint-Germaine. The club has bought a host of stars like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ezeguiel Lavezzi, and Javier Pastore in recent years and may wish to add another star like Beckham to increase their worldwide popularity. I for one see this as a weird choice considering their UEFA Champions League aspirations. David Beckham is not going to bring much to a squad that wants to be among the world’s best, and they would do better to invest in younger talent with greater potential. Beckham’s arrival would shift focus onto the star and would shake up the squad that needs to improve.

Another option is for David Beckham to move to the Australian soccer league, with the city of Melbourne recently offering him the key to the city if a move could be arranged. This would be a similar situation that Beckham was already in with the MLS so I would be rather surprised to see the move transpire. What I think is more likely is a return to the English Premier League with a rather less prestigious club like Fulham or Aston Villa. However, Beckham has always played for winning clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid, and the LA Galaxy, so he may not want to join a weak EPL club and could opt for dominating a lower league such as the one in Australia.

For the LA Galaxy, although their team is poised to lift another MLS Cup fans should be very concerned. With Beckham’s impending departure and Landon Donovan’s hints at a retirement after next season, the club could be without both of their crucial star players in a short period. Although striker Robbie Keane is still at the club, he could potentially leave with the Galaxy losing much of their star prestige. The club will need to work quickly this offseason to recruit a new foreign hero to keep the club up to their proud standing. I presume that they will make a strong push for Frank Lampard, a wonderful midfielder who is losing his place at the English club, Chelsea. The team will go on without Beckham though, but it is definitely a blow for the MLS who had hoped for so much from his arrival.

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MLS Cup Playoffs Heat Up as Conference Finals All Set

Posted on November 9, 2012 by nrspiller@gmail.com

The opening rounds of the MLS Cup Playoffs have finished and there were surprises aplenty as both number one seeds and one number two seed was eliminated, leaving the MLS title completely open to any of the lower seeds who all orchestrated dramatic upsets in the conference semifinal rounds. And so now, with the playoffs truly up for grabs, which team looks destined for MLS glory?

Yesterday saw two late dramatic goals to secure victories as both the New York Red Bulls and Real Salt Lake were knocked out of the tournament. The Red Bulls defeat was the most inexplicable of all. They had the vast majority of chances, and even made a mess of a series of late game opportunities. After opposing goalkeeper Bill Hamid was sent off for a penalty-awarding foul, for some reason Kenny Cooper stood up to take the shot. After the first take was called back, Cooper fired the ball weakly and it was saved. My main concern is why wasn’t Thierry Henry called upon to take the PK? Henry is the coolest striker on Earth, and they paid so much for him. Why didn’t the captain take the penalty? At the way end of the game the Red Bulls had a free kick from the type of range Henry could have curled right in. Take a look at the free kicks the Frenchman has made in his career. And yet, he again didn’t take the shot. And thus they are gone and D.C. United pulled out a fantastic result.

The L.A. Galaxy also had a wonderful result when they brutally disposed of Supporters’ Shield winners, the San Jose Earthquakes. Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane provided some brilliant assists and goals, and the Galaxy looked dominant. So much for Donovan’s dying love of the game.

The Houston Dynamo again showed poise and resiliency after holding off the defensively strong Sporting Kansas City. Their two goals scored in the first-leg match were enough to take out the Eastern Conference’s top seed.

Seattle Sounders found a great late strike from Mario Martinez to separate the sides after nearly two matches had been played without a single goal. They looked the better side throughout and deserved to progress.

And so now the Western Conference final will comprise of the L.A. Galaxy taking on the Seattle Sounders, while D.C. United and the Houston Dynamo tangle in the east. Predicting a winner is no simple task, especially with so many X-factors from each team. The Galaxy has all the superstar names now with Donovan, Keane, and David Beckham. The Sounders house the league’s best fans and one of the game’s hottest strikers in Eddie Johnson, who recently revitalized his international career with the United States National Team. Houston Dynamo has the history of winning the cup twice a few years ago, and were runner’s up last year. D.C. United is excited about the return of Dwayne de Rosario, one of the games most exciting players from Canada and are now the highest seed remaining in the tournament.

Each club will feel that they have a great chance of lifting the MLS Cup now that they have disposed of the top seeds, and since they have these weapons to produce. I feel like this is starting to turn into Seattle’s year and that their fans will lead them to victory, over D.C. United 2-1 in the MLS Cup final. Let’s see if this prediction can hold better than my last!

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MLS Playoffs Get Underway as Wildcard Games Commence

Posted on October 31, 2012 by nrspiller@gmail.com

The 2012 MLS Cup Playoffs are set to begin with the ten fortunate teams that were able to survive the regular season and are now aiming for cup glory. The wonderful thing about end-of-season playoff games to decide the MLS champion is that every team is now basically on a level playing field and has a fair chance to prove themselves and win the cup, regardless of how many points separate the clubs. Another feast for the eyes is set to begin for MLS fans across the country.

First up is the one-game wildcard matches between the clubs who just scraped into the tournament. Tonight features a match between the Chicago Fire and the Houston Dynamo. The Dynamo was in the MLS Cup Final last year and has experience on their side. However, their recent form has been average. After leading the Easter Conference standings in August, the team slumped to a 5^th place finish, barely sneaking into the playoffs by a single point. The team is led by young striker, Will Bruin, who has scored 12 goals in only his second MLS season. Another dangerous player for the Dynamo is Brad Davis, an experienced winger who was an MVP finalist last season. He missed out on last year’s MLS Cup Final through injury and will be ever hungry to get another shot.

Chicago has better recent results, and actually defeated Houston 3-1 in September. They have an excellent young goalkeeper in Sean Johnson, who has already been called up to the United States Men’s National Team several times. Chris Rolfe will lead the attack, and Chicago will hold the home field advantage. However, as it is Halloween, I am picking the orange and black to succeed 2-1 and progress to the next stage.

The Western Conference Wildcard round features a match between the Vancouver Whitecaps and the Los Angeles Galaxy. Vancouver has several great young players in Brazilian Camilo and Jamaican Darren Mattocks, who led the team with 7 goals as a rookie. However, Mattocks hasn’t scored since July and the team has only won one of their last ten matches.

The Los Angeles Galaxy features more star power than any other MLS team with Landon Donovan, Robbie Keane, and David Beckham. Although these players are older, veteran experience is key in playoff games and the Galaxy is the reigning champion. Not only that but their recent run of games shows that they have only lost in one of their last ten matches. They will have the home support and are heavily favored in tomorrow’s match. The Vancouver Whitecaps do not look good at the moment and will surely fall 3-0.

The road will be long and hard for whoever wins in the wildcard round. Up ahead is a two-legged fixture against the top seeded teams in the conference, which are the San Jose Earthquake and Sporting Kansas City, two very formidable opponents. However, this is the reason that the playoff games take place, and every single team does have a fair shot at reaching the MLS Cup Final so nobody can be counted out just yet. The real games have now begun! Welcome to the MLS Playoffs!

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MLS Playoff Race Heats Up with 1 Month Left in 2012 MLS Season

Posted on September 28, 2012 by nrspiller@gmail.com

The MLS Season is drawing to a close and that means teams are in a tough race to earn a vital playoff spot. With just over one month remaining on the schedule, only three teams have clinched a spot, and most of the league will have to be at their best in order to progress in the last few matches of the season.

2012 has been dominated by the San Jose Earthquakes and their star striker, Chris Wondolowski, who has scored a league-best 22 goals. The team currently has 60 points and has already clinched a playoff spot. Right behind them is the Los Angeles Galaxy, the 2011 MLS Champions. Surviving a poor start to the season, the Galaxy is now the hottest team in the league. Having not lost in their last 9 matches, Landon Donovan and David Beckham look to be ever so hungry to repeat in the MLS and also are already locked in to the playoffs. The only other Western Conference team to qualify already is Real Salt Lake, who is led by their fantastic goalie, Nick Rimando. His latest save earned him his 6^th MLS Save of the Week this season.

No other team has cemented a playoff spot and the race will be very tight in the Eastern Conference. The New York Red Bulls had a hot start to the season, but have cooled off considerably and now sit just 3^rd in the Eastern Conference. Thierry Henry and Kenny Cooper still have high goal scoring marks on the season and lead a potent attack, but they need to pick up some points in the last month to really make a mark. Sporting Kansas City now leads the group and hasn’t lost a game since July. Forward Kei Kamara is leading the team in goals and has provided an excellent season. Too many draws have hurt the Houston Dynamo’s year. They had been atop the division in the summer, but are now barely afloat with 46 points and could miss out on the postseason if they fail to produce. One of the better MLS teams in recent years, the team will be mortified if they end without a playoff game. The Columbus Crew will want to lead a late season charge and have enjoyed the goal-scoring exploits of new signing Federico Higuain, the brother of Gonzalo Higuain of Real Madrid. The MLS Higuain has netted 3 goals and 6 assists in only 9 games since his arrival and is sure to provide a late boost to their season.

This is the most exciting time to watch the MLS and will surely have some late season drama as other teams like D.C. United, Seattle Sounders, Vancouver Whitecaps, and FC Dallas all vy for the ten golden sports in the 2012 MLS Playoffs.

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Wondolowski and San Jose Dominating the Western Conference

Posted on July 7, 2012 by nrspiller@gmail.com

The San Jose Earthquakes have struggled to compete in the MLS during recent seasons, usually finishing in the bottom half of the Western Conference. But in today’s ever morphing MLS, a team’s fortune can change very quickly. This season, the Earthquakes happily reside in first place in their conference and could well be on their way to greatness.

San Jose has recently harbored the league’s best striker in Chris Wondolowski. The American has been leading the MLS in goals scored for the past three seasons and is currently atop the board with 14 goals in only 16 matches. He has nearly eclipsed his league-leading goal scoring marks of past years of 18 and 16, having only played half a full season so far. On this pace he could possibly break the MLS record of 27 set by Roy Lassiter in 1996.

But the Earthquakes this year go beyond simply their star striker. Other players have been in top form too. Recent signing Victor Bernardez has provided strength and steel in the defense. The former Anderlecht man also scored a fantastic volley off of a corner to get San Jose back in the California Classic right before half time. The Earthquakes built off of that momentum to earn a stunning comeback victory 4-3 over their rivals, the LA Galaxy.

Another Honduran player that has helped San Jose to this great start is Marvin Chavez. The winger hasn’t yet featured on the score sheet, but he has accumulated 8 assists on the season. His skill is paramount to the club’s success and has seen the Earthquakes net an MLS leading 36 goals for a two goals per game average. His pairing with Wondolowski has been giving defenses headaches all season.

Captain Ramiro Corrales is a versatile veteran of the MLS, who has featured since the inaugural 1996 season. He can play as a fullback, left midfielder, or a central midfielder. Although his speed isn’t what it once was, his leadership and forward thinking presence is also giving San Jose opportunities. He has five assists on the year so far.

Clearly this San Jose Earthquakes team has been smartly assembled for greatness. The team around Chris Wondolowski feeds him the balls and he can deliver the goals. They will be looking to continue their winning ways against FC Dallas tonight, who are in last place in the Western Conference. Where they go on from here is entirely in their hands and we can be sure to see to “wonderful” soccer ahead from this team.

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Beckham Wonder-Goals not enough for Great Britain

Posted on July 2, 2012 by nrspiller@gmail.com

LA Galaxy superstar David Beckham recently got some bad news as he was not selected by Stuart Pearce for the Great Britain Olympic squad. The manager decided to select Ryan Giggs and Craig Bellamy instead for his senior players.

Although the entire Great Britain team plays for clubs in England (most in the English Premier League), one would have thought that Beckham would be an ideal candidate for a spot. Yes at age 37, he is no longer the maestro that he was during his Real Madrid days, but he still is one of the best long range shot artists around.

For the 2012 MLS season, Beckham has netted on three occasions, each one more fantastic than the last. Two of his goals were on trademark free-kicks that swerved away from keepers’ grasps. His most recent effort was a dramatic kick that brought the Galaxy level during their hotly contested loss against the San Jose Earthquakes. San Jose’s goalie John Busch didn’t even attempt to save the ball as it came in so fast. The goal totally deflated the Earthquakes and was followed by two more quick scores that temporarily gave LA a 3-1 lead.

But apparently such a skill was not enough to merit a side in the Olympic squad that is set to feature in London later this month. It will be a hard blow for Beckham to accept this late in his career. The opportunity to represent your country on your home soil is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Stuart Pearce obviously had a bias towards the EPL in making his selections and disregarded the level of the MLS. But what surprises me is that he ignored a player who is so talented at free kicks. International soccer matches often come down to a single moment of beauty, and Beckham is one of the world’s best at directing free kicks. His accuracy is so good that I doubt any goalie could have saved any one of his three goals.

Beckham could have been used as a substitute and brought in late during a match if a free kick opportunity presented itself. Obviously using a player for such a matter is unprecedented, but we are talking about David Beckham here. The man had a movie named after his “bending” ability. He has continued to score these kinds of ridiculous goals for his entire career. I feel that Pearce has made a mistake in ignoring Beckham.

For America his snub is a positive event however. The LA Galaxy is struggling and could use Beckham’s help. Although his goal against San Jose was not enough to earn a victory or a place on Great Britain’s team, goals like that is what the Galaxy desperately needs if they want any shot at repeating as MLS champions.

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