Sports stats



MLS Major League Soccer

MLS Newsstand - January 11, 2017

January 11, 2017 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


1. Galaxy fills out its coaching staff

By Kevin Baxter Los Angeles Times - January 10, 2017

Galaxy Coach Curt Onalfo filled out his first-team coaching staff Tuesday, naming former Seattle Sounders Coach Ante Razov and LA Galaxy II assistant Rob Becerra to the squad and promoting Daniel Gonzalez from Galaxy II to the first team as goalkeeper coach.

The three men replace associate head coach Dave Sarachan, assistants Pat Noonan and Kenny Arena and goalkeeper coach Matt Reis, who followed former Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena to the U.S. national team.

"All three will provide valuable experience and insight that will help improve our players in their development on and off the field," Onalfo said in a statement. "I am confident in the staff we have put together and look forward to continuing to prepare for the 2017 season."

Razov, 42, a former U.S. men's national soccer team and Major League Soccer veteran, is a former Galaxy academy assistant who worked with both Arena and Onalfo in addition to coaching the U-14 and U-18 teams. He left for Seattle ahead of the 2015 season and helped guide the Sounders to their first MLS Cup title last fall.

A forgotten mortgage stimulus program that was passed by Obama to help the middle class Americans reduce their monthly payments by as much as $4,264 each year.

As a player, the Whittier native made 262 MLS appearances between 1996 and 2009, scoring 114 goals for the Galaxy, Chicago Fire, Columbus Crew, New York MetroStars and Chivas USA.

His addition fleshes out an executive and coaching staff that has a long track record of both playing for the Galaxy and working in its academy system. President Chris Klein, General Manager Peter Vagenas and Onalfo also played for the franchise and were involved with building out the academy.

Becerra joined the LA Galaxy II coaching staff during the team's inaugural 2014 season. Before that, he coached at the University of Redlands, where he led the Bulldogs to their most successful run in school history, going 126-28-8 in eight seasons and earning the school's first NCAA playoff appearance.

Gonzalez, who began his playing career in his native Argentina before coming to the U.S. and playing in the North American Soccer League, coached with both the Colorado Rapids and Chivas USA. Since joining Galaxy II, he also served as the goalkeeper coach for the men's and women's teams at Cal State Dominguez Hills.

2. LA Galaxy coach Curt Onalfo assembles staff in wake of Arena's exit

By Damian Calhoun LA Daily News - January 11, 2017

CARSON >> New Galaxy coach Curt Onalfo's staff has a familiar look to him and to those in the Galaxy organization.

Onalfo, who was hired to replace Bruce Arena as Galaxy coach in December, will bring with him from the Galaxy II staff Rob Becerra and Daniel Gonzalez and it also announced that former MLS star Ante Razov, whose playing career began with the Galaxy in 1996, has joined the staff from Seattle.

The moves were announced Tuesday.

The openings were created with previous assistants Dave Sarachan, Pat Noonan, Kenny Arena and Matt Reis joined Arena with the U.S. Men's National team.

"They have a really good understanding of how I work," Onalfo said. "Which I think is an advantage because we want to hit the ground running."

Razov's playing career started with the Galaxy after a career at UCLA.

He went on to flourish with the Chicago Fire and ended his MLS career with 114 goals in 262 appearances.

He spent time coaching the Galaxy Academy system before joining the Sounders' coaching staff in 2015.

"He's one of our league's best goal scorers," Onalfo said of Razov. "He's got a great mind for the game. We feel like he will be a real valuable asset and he'll be able to give some great insight and nuances to our attacking player."

Becerra and Gonzalez both joined the Galaxy II staff during the inaugural 2014 season. Gonzalez will replace Reis as the goalkeeper coach.

Becerra has also coached at Stanford University (2006-2013) and Redlands University, where he compiled a 126-28-8 record.

Gonzalez's coaching history included stints with the Colorado Rapids and Chivas USA before joining Galaxy II.

"I think it was a natural progression," Onalfo said of Becerra and Gonzalez joining the first team staff. "Daniel's been in the league and he has enormous experience and has a great feel for all of our goalkeepers. Rob has a great mind for the game and he's a great addition."

3. D.C. United's Bill Hamid scratched from U.S. camp with knee injury

By Steven Goff Washington Post - January 10, 2017

CARSON, Calif. - For the second consecutive year, D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid will miss the U.S. national team's winter camp because of a knee injury suffered during offseason workouts.

Hamid aggravated his right knee, the one that required surgery last year and sidelined him for months.

Results of an MRI exam performed by the U.S. medical staff this week were negative. Hamid will return to Washington for further evaluation. A timetable for recovery hasn't been set but, under the best circumstances, he seems likely to miss the start of United training camp in two weeks.

Bruce Arena will open U.S. workouts Wednesday at StubHub Center with an all-MLS roster. There are no immediate plans to replace Hamid, leaving four goalies: Real Salt Lake's Nick Rimando, San Jose's David Bingham, New York's Luis Robles and Seattle's Stefan Frei.

Hamid, 26, is entering his eighth full MLS season, the longest tenure on the D.C. squad.

He has been in and out of the national team picture for several years. This winter, with Tim Howard sidelined with a groin injury and Brad Guzan demoted to back-up duty with his English club, Hamid and others from MLS and abroad have been angling to rise on the depth chart ahead of World Cup qualifiers and the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

National team appearances would bolster Hamid's profile in European circles as he enters the final year of his contract with United. He has trained abroad multiple times during MLS offseasons, including a spell with Swansea City in the Premier League this winter.

4. FC Dallas defender Ryan Hollingshead recovering after suffering neck injury while aiding motorist

Dallas Morning News - January 09, 2017

FC Dallas midfielder Ryan Hollingshead is healing up after suffering fractures to three different cervical vertebrae in a car accident, according to the team.

Hollingshead was helping people who had trouble with their car in Irving when another car struck him as North Texas was battling icy conditions.

Hollingshead will have to be in a neck brace for the next six to eight weeks but won't need surgery, according to an FC Dallas news release. Because the fractures are stable, there is no risk of spinal cord damage or loss of any function.

He is now recovering at home after being discharged from a local hospital Sunday, according to the news release.

5. Sporting KC acquires Ghanaian winger Latif Blessing in transfer deal

By Sam McDowell Kansas City Star - January 09, 2017

During an offseason in which Sporting Kansas City centralized resources on reinvigorating the offense, the club took another step Monday morning.

Sporting KC made official the transfer acquisition of winger Latif Blessing from Liberty Professionals FC of the Ghana Premier League, five days after it announced it had added designated player Gerso Fernandes at the same position.

The contract with Blessing, reported by The Star last month, will run through the 2019 season with an option for 2020.

Blessing, who turned 20 on Dec. 30, was named the most valuable player of the Ghana Premier League last month after he led the league with 17 goals.

"The great thing we love about him is that he is young but with a lot of upside, as evidence by his goal-scoring record with his previous club," Sporting KC coach Peter Vermes said. "With every player you acquire, you always feel they have potential, but we also think he has a great attitude. And we think he has the ability to reach his potential with our club."

Blessing, a native of Ghana, received a call-up to his country's national team in December, when he was named to the 30-player provisional roster for the African Cup of Nations, though he was not selected for the final roster.

He has spent his entire career in Ghana. After maturing through the Liberty Professionals youth academy, he made his senior-team debut last February and scored his first goal a week later.

While Blessing and Fernandes play the same position - the outskirts of the front line - they do so with a mix of talent. Whereas Vermes acknowledged Fernandes' primary focus is creating for his teammates, Blessing is a goal scorer. He notched two hat tricks in 2016.

The two players do, however, possess a handful of similar qualities. Like Fernandes, Blessing is of smaller stature. He is 5-7 and 140 pounds and noted for his speed on the wings.

"That was an area of focus for us," Vermes said of the position during a teleconference with reporters last week. "We brought in some younger talent as well. It's an important position within our system."

He added, "Pace is always a big help, so yes, I think pace is an important aspect. For sure, we were looking for that."

6. Sporting KC signs former USL forward Cameron Iwasa

By Sam McDowell Kansas City Star - January 10, 2017

For the second straight day, Sporting Kansas City turned to the second division of American soccer to augment its roster.

The club signed forward Cameron Iwasa to a one-year contract Tuesday with options for the ensuing three seasons.

Iwasa played the last two seasons with the Sacramento Republic FC in the United Soccer League, where he scored 12 goals in 2016.

"Cameron is a player we saw at the MLS combine in 2015 and who we followed closely during his time at Sacramento," said Brian Bliss, the Sporting KC director of player personnel. "We think that he is a player with a high upside who can contribute at multiple positions in the attack."

Iwasa played 30 matches last season, starting the final 27. He played four seasons at UC Irvine in college.

Sporting KC acquired former USL forward Christian Volesky in a trade with Portland on Monday.

7. Sporting Kansas City signs goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra

By Sam McDowell Kansas City Star - January 10, 2017

Sporting Kansas City reached a one-year contract agreement with goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra on Tuesday, nearly three weeks after it plucked him from the MLS Re-Entry Draft.

It's the second straight season in which Sporting KC has utilized the draft to supplement its goalkeeper depth chart.

Dykstra, 31, has been in MLS for seven years, most recently with D.C. United, which declined his contract option earlier this offseason. The seven-year tenure has included only 31 league matches, in which he totaled an 11-11-8 record with seven shutouts. In Kansas City, Dykstra will likely serve as the backup to starter Tim Melia.

"We wanted to fill that role with a veteran of MLS," Sporting KC coach Peter Vermes said. "We know (him) very well from his time in the league. He has a good attitude, and we look forward (to) working with him this coming season."

Dykstra played in only one match last season, which was interrupted by a back injury. But he played in eight games for the D.C. United USL affiliate in Richmond, recording a 1.25 goals-against average.

A year ago, Sporting KC selected goalkeeper Alec Kann in the Re-Entry Draft, but Kann was selected by Atlanta United in the expansion draft last month.

8. New Orlando City midfielder Will Johnson sees bright future for Lions

By Alicia DelGallo Orlando Sentinel - January 10, 2017

After a quick trip to Orlando right before Christmas, Will Johnson flew back to Toronto, loaded some belongings, his two-year-old son and two small dogs in his car and drove right back down the east coast.

Movers packed up the rest of his house and his wife and daughter flew down later to make the move permanent.

"I came down for a week and decided this was going to be right," said Johnson, Orlando City's newest roster addition. "Three things: I was blown away by the stadium. . . . Second thing was my relationship with [head coach] Jason [Kreis.] And the third part of it was the challenge of turning this team into a playoff team - the project that it was and the potential that it has, given how relevant Orlando City is in the community and in this city."

Johnson, 29, is a Toronto native who has been a part of two MLS Cup championship teams - Portland Timbers (2015) and Real Salt Lake (2009), which was coached by Kreis. He came back from a broken leg in 2014 and was traded to Toronto FC before the 2016 season. He contributed heavily, starting the first 15 games of the season before suffering another leg fracture that sidelined him for six weeks. He returned to less playing time, and after having conversations with the coaching staff about his future, leaving his hometown team was easy, he said.

"I didn't want to leave, I wanted to stay, but obviously the way that I was treated down the stretch after I got hurt was, in my opinion, disrespectful," Johnson said. "It was a very easy decision. Ultimately, if you don't feel that you're getting a level of respect from the coach, then leaving is obviously, like I said, a very easy decision."

Johnson said his previous injuries should not be a cause for concern. In 2015, he dealt with aches, pains and scar tissue, he said, but since coming back from last season's injury he feels 100 percent healthy, sharp and ready to contribute as a leader on and off the field for the Lions.

"It was just two crazy tackles, they were impact injuries versus ones that could have been prevented," he said.

As far as his role with the Lions, Johnson said he can contribute in multiple positions, depending on where Kreis asks him to play, but feels most comfortable as a true No. 8, a box-to-box midfielder. He said Kreis is someone he respects and can bring out the best in him.

"I can defend, I can play as a six and I can also attack and play more as an eight," Johnson said. "I'll be willing to do any of those jobs. The best position for me is box to box, is when I can at times defend with the group, make sure we're solid in the back, and then at the other end I can get forward and score some goals, too."

He's also excited to play with Lions striker Cyle Larin, who he has spent time with in training camps with the Canadian national team; goalkeeper Joe Bendik; and, of course, Kaká.

"I think Joe Bendik had a really great year last year," Johnson said. "I'm excited to see him grow into an elite-level keeper in Major League Soccer. [Kaká] is a legend of the game, of my generation, and so to learn from him and find out what he sees in me and how we can both make this group special and a winner on the field, that's a challenge that I look forward to exploring with him."

Johnson said he also is looking forward to playing in front of the Lions' supporters.

"What I like about this place is that the fans are always behind you," he said. "Even though things haven't been great the first two years, the attendance numbers and the relevancy were still there. The potential for this city literally to turn purple is what inspired me to come here."

9. Portland Timbers loan Lucas Melano to Argentine side Club Atletico Belgrano

By Jamie Goldberg The Oregonian - January 09, 2017

The Portland Timbers have loaned winger Lucas Melano to Argentine side Club Atletico Belgrano through December 31, 2017.

Belgrano reported that the deal is a loan with an option to buy.

It was expected that the Timbers would offload Melano this offseason after the designated player failed to live up to expectations in 2016. The Timbers paid a $5 million transfer fee to acquire Melano in 2014, but the winger recorded just four goals and eight assists in 44 appearances over one and a half years with the Timbers.

Reports that Melano would be joining Belgrano started coming out over the weekend.

The loan opens up a designated player spot on the Timbers roster, which Portland is expected to use to sign another designated player at the winger position. Timbers owner Merritt Paulson said in a tweet last week that the Timbers were "close" to acquiring a "high-level" designated player.

Here is the full release from the Timbers:

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Timbers have loaned midfielder Lucas Melano to Argentine Primera Division side Club Atletico Belgrano through Dec. 31, 2017, it was announced today.

"In loaning Lucas to Belgrano, we are looking to place him in a situation that can help him succeed," said Gavin Wilkinson, general manager and president of soccer for the Timbers. "There is always a transitional risk with any foreign player, and that is magnified with young players. The 2016 season was difficult for Lucas, however we believe he is a talented player, and he was a crucial contributor to the Timbers winning MLS Cup in 2015. We expect him to regain his form at his home team in Belgrano, and we wish him all the best."

Since joining the Timbers midway through the 2015 MLS campaign, Melano, 23, has made 44 regular-season appearances (35 starts), recording four goals and eight assists in 2,993 minutes played. Additionally, Melano made six appearances (4 starts) during the 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs, scoring the series-deciding goal against FC Dallas in the Western Conference Championship and recording an assist on the game-winning goal in a 2-1 win against Columbus Crew SC in the 2015 MLS Cup.

Melano began his professional career with Belgrano, earning his first-team debut on March 17, 2012, after working his way through the club's youth ranks. Melano recorded seven goals in 44 career league appearances for Belgrano, helping the club qualify for the 2013 Copa Sudamericana competition with a third-place finish in the 2012-13 Torneo Inicial season.

Prior to joining the Timbers during the 2015 MLS campaign, the Hernando, Argentina, native logged 42 appearances for Argentinian Primera Division club Lanus (2013-2015), scoring eight goals while helping the side to a championship in the 2013 Copa Sudamericana as one of the tournament's leading scorers. In his final season with the club, Melano led Lanus in scoring, recording five goals in 14 games before being acquired by Portland.

10. Earthquakes introduce new GM, eye Club America forward

By Elliott Almond San Jose Mercury News - January 10, 2017

SAN JOSE - A renewed sense of optimism has enveloped the Earthquakes with the arrival of new general manager Jesse Fioranelli and the possibility of some major player signings, including a forward from Mexico's Club America.

"In 2017, we will send a message and that will be strong enough, I'm 100 percent sure," said Fioranelli, who was introduced Tuesday as the replacement for John Doyle, the Quakes' only general manager since they re-entered the league in 2008.

Fioranelli, 37, asked for patience as he learns the sometimes byzantine ways of U.S. soccer. But amid a four-year playoff drought, the Quakes must also focus on the 2017 season, which opens in March.

President Dave Kaval on Tuesday confirmed a ESPN FC report that the team is trying to sign Club America forward Darwin Quintero.The report citing unidentified league sources also said San Jose is pursuing Ivory Coast forward Solomon Kalou, Albanian midfielder Jahmir Hyka and Costa Rican forward Marco Urena.

A source with knowledge of the negotiations said talks with Quintero and Hyka appear to be the most positive.

To date, the only moves the team has announced this offseason are the signings of Panamanian defender Harold Cummings and Homegrown player Nick Lima, a promising fullback from Cal.

"I wouldn't take the lack of signings to mean we haven't worked really hard and haven't identified and analyzed players; we have," technical director Chris Leitch said.

Leitch and coach Dominic Kinnear declined to identify their targets, citing ongoing negotiations. The Quakes are expected to re-sign attacking midfielder Tommy Thompson and defender Marvell Wynne and they have the No. 6 overall pick in Friday's college draft. They also have the No. 28, No. 50 and No. 72 picks.

"Looking at what we've done, the back line is pretty solid," Kinnear said.

The coach added the Quakes still are in talks to re-sign winger Alberto Quintero, another Panamanian who was on loan last year in San Jose. The team also is negotiating with Colombian forward Olmes Garcia, who was selected last month in the re-entry draft.

Kinnear said their priority now is to sign attacking players to pair with star Chris Wondolowski.

Darwin Quintero, no relation to Alberto Quinetero, seems like the striker who could make the biggest impact. A naturalized Mexican from Columbia, he plays for Club America and also has played at Santos Laguna. He has scored 114 goals in his Mexican career.

Leitch and Kinnear have handled player acquisitions in the absence of a GM. Fioranellideclined to say how much that would change now that he's aboard.

"The goal for the next three months is to listen and to absorb," he said in his first public comments since getting hired last week. "It's going to take a little bit a time in my new environment so I ask you for a little bit of patience."

But the former executive at AS Roma and Serie A team Lazio is ready to create an identity for the Earthquakes.

"There is not a single player or person that is more important than the club itself," he said. "Big signings and high-profile players will have to fit into the goals that we set out as a club."

Kaval expects Fioranelli will keep Leitch and Kinnear, calling the trio the league's "Dream Team." Kaval added that the hiring elevates Major League Soccer's profile, given that Fioranelli was a rising star from Serie A, one of the world's best leagues.

"That we have someone who just moved from Rome says a lot about where MLS and soccer in America are," Kaval said. "We saw the interest from all the big clubs - Manchester City and Manchester United."

Historically, international administrators have struggled in MLS. But Kaval said MLS is evolving into a league with bigger budgets and bigger visions.

"To create a global football club and get someone who could think beyond North America, we felt (Fioranelli) was a perfect fit where the league is going," Kaval said.

Born of an American mother and an Italian father, Fioranelli grew up playing soccer in his native Switzerland. He spent some of his teen years in Maryland. A father of one child (a son), Fioranelli said he was attracted to the Bay Area because of the team's potential and Silicon Valley's reputation for innovation.

"If I weren't completely convinced that this was the right move for me and my family, I wouldn't have taken it," Fioranelli said.

11. Major League Soccer announces new five-year Canadian broadcast agreements

The Canadian Press - January 10, 2017

TORONTO - Major League Soccer has extended its TV deal with TSN for five years while striking a new five-year French-language agreement with TVA Sports.

MLS is coming off a bumper season in Canada that saw Toronto FC beat the Montreal Impact in the Eastern Conference final before losing the MLS Cup final to the Seattle Sounders via penalty shootout. The championship game drew more than 1.5 million viewers in Canada.

"Coming off the record-setting season the league had in Canada, we are excited to announce these new deals with TSN and TVA Sports," Gary Stevenson, president and managing director of MLS Business Ventures, said in a statement. "These agreements are a clear indication that our media partners - along with the league and our Canadian clubs - are investing in the growth of the sport in Canada."

RDS previously held French-language rights in Canada. TSN has been a broadcast partner since 2011.

This season TSN will show every Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps game and a "select number" of Montreal Impact matches as well as "marquee matchups" featuring U.S.-based teams as well as English-language coverage of the MLS all-star game, playoffs and MLS Cup.

MLS coverage will include Friday night coverage and a game of the week Saturday nights. The full broadcast schedule will be released at a later date.

TVA will provide French-language broadcasts of Montreal Impact matches plus the all-star game, playoffs and MLS Cup - more than 50 games in total per season.

South of the border, MLS is about to start the third season of an eight-year rights deal with ESPN, FOX and Univision.

12. Canadian teenager Adonijah Reid an intriguing prospect in MLS SuperDraft

By Neil Davidson The Canadian Press - January 11, 2017

The youngest player at the MLS Combine may also be one of the MLS draft's biggest mysteries.

At 17, Canadian forward Adonijah Reid is very much a work in progress. But his raw talent combined with a Generation Adidas Canada contract that does not count against the salary cap should draw interest in Friday's MLS SuperDraft in Los Angeles.

The five-foot-five talent from Brampton, Ont., who does not turn 18 until mid-September, has honed his talents at the ANB Futbol Academy in suburban Toronto since he was 11.

"He is an attacking-minded player, I don't like to say forward because he can play behind the striker, as a striker and he can be on the wing," said ANB Academy director Bassam Naim.

"He is a very lethal finisher," he added. "He will bury the ball most of the time."

ANB Futbol Academy wasted little time showcasing his talents to European teams.

"This young man has been very well-travelled ... He has been offered many scenarios," said Naim. "But due to the fact that he doesn't have European documents - he's Canadian-born - it was difficult for us to keep him in Europe."

As a 15-year-old, Reid tied for the scoring lead in League 1 Ontario with the ANB Futbol team. More recently he has been playing for the Academy's under-20 side.

"He's definitely able to compete with older players," said Naim. "That's an edge he has. He's motivated to play with older men ... I think the future is bright."

Reid has spent time with Canadian under-15, under-16 and under-18 camps, while drawing plenty of interest from U.S. colleges.

"He's got undoubted talent," said Canadian under-20 coach Rob Gale. "It's really going to be interesting how he develops and grows once he's in that full-time professional environment. But he's a dynamic forward. He can probably play in any of four front positions."

Reid has a knack for getting into goal-scoring positions.

"He's got a big upside ... He's always been the best player in his current environment," said Gale. "And now he needs that extra push which I think is going to be very very good for him."

Quiet off the field, the youngster will likely be a project for an MLS team willing to give him the time needed.

The Vancouver Whitecaps have the highest pick among the Canadian team at No. 7. Montreal picks 19th and Toronto 21st.

Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson plays his cards close to his chest and has a shopping list with various needs. But the franchise has not been shy in the past about young talent, using the fourth overall pick in the 2013 draft to take 17-year-old forward Kekuta Manneh.

Reid is joined by 19-year-old FC Edmonton midfielder Shamit Shome in the inaugural Generation Adidas Canada class.

13. Impact sign goalie Eric Kronberg, name Jack Stern goalkeeping coach

By Bill Beacon The Canadian Press - January 09, 2017

MONTREAL - Eric Kronberg is not quite done as a goalkeeper, but the 33-year-old will begin the transition into coaching this season with the Montreal Impact.

Kronberg, who has backed up starting goalkeeper Evan Bush the last two seasons, signed a one-year contract Monday that will see him drop down to third on the club's depth chart behind Bush and Maxime Crepeau, while also helping out Mauro Biello's coaching staff.

"Max has done a great job," Kronberg said in a telephone interview. "He's ready, and I don't really want to be number two any more."

Kronberg would have loved to keep playing if he could land a job in Major League Soccer as a starter. But since that wasn't likely to happen, Kronberg preferred to get started on his long-term goal to become a coach.

"I'm excited about it," he said. "I'm beginning my transition.

"I want to continue to play, but I also want to help the team in other ways."

In his new duties, he will train with the team and then coach the young players left behind when the Impact go on the road in all positions, not just goalies. He is unlikely to see any game action unless Bush or Crepeau suffer an injury.

Kronberg appeared in only five regular season games and six Amway Canadian Championship matches for Montreal over the last two seasons. He previously played eight seasons for Sporting Kansas City.

"Eric has settled in nicely over the last two years and expressed his desire to remain with the club," technical director Adam Braz said in a statement. "He's an experienced goalkeeper and a respected player in the locker-room.

"He will push our first two goalkeepers, Evan and Maxime, to excel throughout the next season."

The change was unrelated to the Impact's decision to promote Jack Stern to first team goalkeeping coach, replacing Youssef Dahha.

Stern, 29, worked the last two seasons with goalies on the club's defunct USL team FC Montreal and also worked with its youth squads. The London native was goalkeeping coach in the academy of English Premier League club West Bromwich Albion from 2009 to 2014, starting as an intern at 21 before earning the full-time job in 2012.

"After analysing the season as a whole, we decided to take a different direction regarding our goalkeepers," said Biello. "Jack brings a new perspective and tremendous experience to the team, both with the academy and abroad."

"I am extremely honoured, proud and excited to start in my new role with the first team," said Stern. "I have been with the club for three years now and in that time I have developed a great love for this city, this club, the fans and everyone involved in the organization."

The Impact also confirmed that the rest of Biello's staff will be back this season. Assistant coaches Jason DiTullio and Wilfried Nancy, fitness coach Yannick Girard, mental strength coach Antoine Guldner and video and data analyst Massimo Di Ioia will all return for the 2017 campaign.

They hope to find a new role for Dahha in the organization.

14. Earnie Stewart says the Union aren't done shopping for new players yet

By Jonathan Tannenwald Philadelphia Inquirer - January 11, 2017

CARSON, Calif. - I spent a few minutes chatting with Earnie Stewart at the MLS Draft Combine on Tuesday. There was plenty to talk about, so I don't think I need to write much more of an introduction. Let's get right to it.

You started the week by signing English striker Jay Simpson. He has an interesting pedigree, having played over the years for Leyton Orient and Arsenal, but his name was new to most folks in Philadelphia. How did you find him?

Jay came through the network that we have in Europe and the contacts that we have over there. He came to our attention, and after our first evaluations, we made sure to go and watch him.

A lot of the fan base is wondering if Simpson is going to be the top-of-the-depth-chart striker that they've been waiting to see the team sign this offseason. Is he that player, or is he meant as a complement to incumbents C.J. Sapong and Charlie Davies?

The thing that we were looking for in this offseason was somebody whose alarm bells go off when we get into the 18-yard box. That's what we were looking for, focusing on and targeting, and Jay has that. Once a ball falls into the 18-yard box, he has those instincts as a center forward to be in and around the ball. That's a very important quality that a center forward needs.

That was something that we wanted to address, and with Jay we feel we've definitely done that.

How do you judge the caliber of play in England's League Two, where Simpson played with Leyton Orient? How do you compare it to MLS and other leagues that you scout?

I don't look so much at leagues and where they play and all that, because it doesn't say that much. I remember in Holland, they always said, "You know, in the second division you can't find anybody," and we found Vincent Janssen [bringing him from Almere City to AZ Alkmaar in 2015]. A year later, we made a transfer for $22 million to Tottenham [Hotspur of the English Premier League].

So I don't look at it that way. I look at certain qualities that people have and we're trying to find. And then obviously, with his experience in the Premier League, but also in the Championship and being with Arsenal in the academy, it brings a certain thing to the surface. It does not necessarily always say, where you play at that moment, what kind of center forward you can be for the Philadelphia Union.

What's left on the shopping list between now and the start of the season in early March?

We still have a couple of positions that we want to address, where we believe we can make an impact and where we can make a difference. A couple of those positions we've addressed [including] left back with Giliano Wijnaldum, to find somebody to make sure Fabinho has a competitor. Bringing Jay [Simpson] in, we believe we addressed that.

In midfield, we'd still like to go get a controlling midfielder that we're busy with right now. Then, for the most part, we'd like to be two deep in every spot, and that's especially what this draft is for - some young talent that can fill those holes that we still have.

Jim Curtin told me a few weeks ago that the team was also looking at signing a veteran centerback. Is that still the case?

Yeah, that's also a possibility, but things have to happen on our roster. That's the great thing about this league, and obviously something else - you can't address everything that you would like.

There would have to be something that happens for us to get that done, but let's hope. That's one of the things that we'd like to do. We have a young back line, and we've seen that on some occasions last year we could have used some veteran experience in helping us. That's what we're looking to do.

Does that kind of signing help off the field as much as on it?

Yeah. You have to have a good locker room, and we had a good locker room last year. But especially toward the end of the season, when those moments became nerve-wracking for us, it's not easy. It's good to have someone in your locker room that's had that experience, that's been through those motions to help you through that point. That's what those kinds of players can do for you.

When it comes to the young players on the team, it's obviously going to be up to Jim to decide how much playing time guys like academy products Derrick Jones and Auston Trusty get with the senior team this year. What do you hope for when it comes to what level those guys, and any other academy products who join the senior team this year, will be at?

You hope as a club, and it's what we work for every single day, that they make a lot of minutes. That's what I hope for, because that validates what you do in your academy.

And I do believe those two players - I've seen the progression they've had, from the academy going to Bethlehem Steel and then joining our first team and training among the Ilsinhos of this world every single day, and the Roland Albergs. You see them getting better, and that's a great part.

They're both in camp now with the [U.S. national team] under-20s, which is also good, getting international experience at the same time. Then once they come into preseason, we're going to give them minutes and see how they do, see how they fare. But you can see the progression every single day with these guys. It's going up. So I hope they make a lot of minutes this season in MLS.

Auston in particular seems to have the mental side of life as a professional pretty well in place for a kid of his age, 18 years old.

He's very adult and wise. I see that with all of the kids that come out of our academy that have gone to [the Union's] school. Auston is one of those examples that we have. The belief system that they have set in place at the school really puts the personalities out there. He's one of those kids that goes out there every single afternoon and makes sure he works on his weaker points. He's been fantastic at that.

When you're out here watching these games at the MLS combine, where the players are thrown together largely at random and probably haven't played much with or against each other, what are you watching for?

It's like I said - if it's League Two or if it's college, you look at certain players, and what we try to see for a Philadelphia Union player is that everybody has their roles and responsibilities on the field, and you try to address those. That's how we look at these types of players.

We're not necessarily looking for good players, but we're looking for good players that fit with the Philadelphia Union. If you can identify who you are and what's important for you, it makes it easier for you to look at these games and those players that might fit into that system and the style that we like to play.

15. Union sign English striker Jay Simpson, formerly of Leyton Orient and Arsenal

By Marc Narducci Philadelphia Inquirer - January 09, 2017

The Union filled one of their biggest offseason needs by signing 28-year-old forward Jay Simpson as a Discovery Signing using Targeted Allocation Money (TAM).

Each Major League Soccer team has a Discovery list of up to seven players who are not under contract to MLS and are not subject to another mechanism (such as the SuperDraft or Allocation Process).

TAM allows clubs to invest in a class of players making between $480,625 and $1 million. It allows teams to bring that player's salary budget figure down.

In 2017, each of the 22 MLS clubs will receive $1.2 million of Targeted Allocation Money.

The 5-foot-11, 186-pound Simpson played for six clubs in England and one in Thailand. He most recently played for Leyton Orient, currently in the Fourth Tier in English League Two, where in his last full season, 2015-2016, he scored 25 goals in 45 league appearances.

He has played at the highest level in England, having scored his first English Premier League goal for West Bromwich Albion on Jan, 31, 2009 against Hull City.

Most recently, he scored 36 goals in 99 appearances for Leyton Orient.

Simpson will occupy the Union's seventh and final international slot. (The Union traded one slot and will have eight for the 2018 season).

Last week, Union sporting director Earnie Stewart said that his two remaining priorities were a forward and a center back.

"Jay brings goal-scoring prowess to our team in addition to a valuable veteran presence as he has demonstrated with multiple clubs in England," Stewart said in a statement released by the team. "He has played at the highest levels of club soccer, including the Premier League, and we are excited to add a forward of his quality to our squad."

This is the Union's second international and Discovery signing within the past week. The Union signed Dutch left back Giliano Wijnaldum last week.

Without a first-round pick in Friday's MLS SuperDraft, if the Union is to add a center back, they likely will make a trade.

The Union report to begin training on Jan. 23 and open their eighth MLS season on March 5 at Vancouver.

16. Union hope English forward Simpson can find the net

By Matthew DeGeorge Delaware County Times - January 09, 2017

Rumors surfaced last week that the Philadelphia Union were zeroing in on the signing of an English forward.

Monday, that move came to fruition.

The Union announced the acquisition of Jay Simpson, a journeyman English forward from the Arsenal youth system who last played at League Two club Leyton Orient in the English fourth division.

Simpson was acquired as a discovery signing and will occupy the seventh of seven international spots for 2017. The Union also announced the use of Targeted Allocation Money to pay down Simpson's salary-cap hit.

"Jay brings goal-scoring prowess to our team, in addition to a valuable veteran presence, as he has demonstrated with multiple clubs in England," Union sporting director Earnie Stewart said in a team statement. "He has played at the highest levels of club soccer, including in the Premier League, and we are excited to add a forward of his quality to our squad."

Simpson, 28, spent a decade with the Arsenal youth system, most notably scoring a hat trick for the Under-18 squad in an FA Youth Cup game. He failed to appear for the Gunners in a league game, though he scored in the league cup and made the bench twice for UEFA Champions League ties.

Simpson played 13 Premier League matches, scoring once, on loan to West Bromwich Albion in 2008-09 while spending loan stints with League One side Millwall and Championship squad Queens Park Rangers, the latter a highly successful spell yielding 12 goals.

Simpson earned regular minutes for Hull City in the Championship, the second division, around a second loan stint to Millwall, then was sold to Buriram United in the Thai Premier League, the same club that owned the rights to Eric Ayuk two years ago before the Union purchased them.

In his return to England, the 5-foot-11 Simpson scored 33 goals in 87 leagues games with Leyton Orient, with the O's relegated to League Two in 2014-15. In all competitions, Simpson scored 36 goals in 101 appearances for Orient. He scored three times in 14 games in the first half of the campaign.

The move for Simpson harkens to the success that the New York Red Bulls enjoyed with Bradley Wright-Phillips, another journeyman striker in the lower tiers of England who has become one of the MLS's most prolific scorers. Wright-Phillips had a greater assist with the cache of his father, Arsenal legend Ian Wright, but he struggled at his first club, Manchester City, and found himself a half-decade removed from Premier League soccer and on loan with League One Brentford at age 27 when the Red Bulls landed him. Since, he has scored 69 goals in 107 games, twice winning the league's golden Boot.

Simpson, who can play on the wing or up top, reflects the versatility the Union seem to prefer in forwards. He joins a corps that includes incumbent but underwhelming starter CJ Sapong, second-year pro Fabian Herbers and re-signed Charlie Davies. Herbers and Simpson (and to a lesser extent, Sapong and Davies) can all play on the wing.

17. Tim Howard's recovery from groin surgery "going as planned"

By Daniel Boniface Denver Post - January 10, 2017

COMMERCE CITY - Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Tim Howard is on schedule in his recovery from a November surgery to repair a fractured right adductor longus, Rapids coach Pablo Mastroeni said last week.

"His recovery is going well and going as planned," Mastroeni said. "Look forward to continued recovery and getting him back ASAP."

Howard suffered the injury in a World Cup qualifying match against Mexico on Nov. 11 while taking a goal kick. His surgery was performed Nov. 17 in Los Angeles and was expected to sideline the U.S. national team goalkeeper for four months.

Major League Soccer announced that Howard will speak at the NSCAA All-America Luncheon on Saturday at the Los Angeles Convention Center along with Toronto FC striker Jozy Altidore. The conference is billed as the world's largest annual gathering of soccer coaches and administrators.

Howard will to return to his home in Memphis following the conference, where his progress will be assessed firsthand by the Rapids.

"Chris Sharpe, our goalkeeper coach, will go out and visit him on the 14th and spend a week with him in Memphis to see how things are going," Mastroeni said.

The surgery typically takes six to eight weeks to heal before rehab can begin, Dr. Eric McCarty, chief of CU Sports Medicine at UCHealth, told the Denver Post in November.

Howard has been posting vacation photos on social media over the last month. He posed for a photo with New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony in late December and traveled to Green Bay last weekend to support the New York Giants.

The Rapids re-signed goalkeeper Zac MacMath to a "long-term" deal this offseason and he would likely see the bulk of playing time in training camp and early in the 2017 season. Howard's timeline would put his return at mid March at the earliest.

Colorado's first regular season game is scheduled for March 4 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park against New England Revolution.

18. Minnesota United was 'really easy choice' for newly acquired Norwegian defender

By Paul Klauda Minneapolis Star Tribune - January 11, 2017

Minnesota United has added Norwegian defender Vadim Demidov, who at age 30 is the oldest player signed to date to the new Major League Soccer franchise's still-growing roster.

The club announced Demidov's signing on Tuesday, just three days before it is set to make the first pick in the MLS SuperDraft of college players in Los Angeles.

The 6-1 Demidov, listed as a center defender or defensive midfielder, has been playing in Norway's top soccer league. He was among the players scouted by Minnesota United Sporting Director Manny Lagos during a trip through Scandinavia last fall.

Demidov has been with SK Brann since 2014, earning a reputation for smart, aggressive play. He previously played with clubs in top leagues in Germany, Spain and Russia. In a statement released by the Loons, Demidov called it a "really easy choice'' to join the Loons.

"I wanted to take on a new challenge and prove myself in a new league, and I am very happy to be able to do that here in Minnesota,'' he said.

Lagos said the club was attracted by Demidov's leadership qualities and willingness to be part of the unknown, including adversity, that goes with an expansion team launching itself into the top tier of U.S. soccer. "He's excited to be part of this,'' Lagos said.

Minnesota United coach Adrian Heath lauded Demidov's "winning mentality and work ethic that's so important for a club in growth. He fits the mold of the players we desire for in this club."

The son of an international handball player, Demidov is a nationalized citizen born in modern-day Latvia. His family moved to Norway when his father took a coaching position there.

He signed his first pro soccer contract in 2004 and got his first call up to Norway's national team in 2008. He played for the team in 16 matches, including some time in European Championship qualifying.

Demidov visited Minnesota for the first time last week during a run of below-zero weather. Lagos noted that he has played for a country of 5 million people and will now be in a place that is home to nearly 1 million people of Norwegian heritage.

Lago said he is looking at signing "a few more'' players in Demidov's age range as the club fills out its 28-player roster. Demidov is the 12th player signing announced to date.

The team is set to begin preseason training Jan. 23. The club is expected to train in Arizona until early February. The team expects to shift to Portland to train into the middle of February, including three games in the Portland Tournament.

Minnesota United opens its regular season on March 3 at Portland. The team's home-opener is March 12 against fellow expansion franchise Atlanta at TCF Bank Stadium.

19. United addition Vadim Demidov 'will do the work' as defender

By Andy Greder St. Paul Pioneer Press - January 10, 2017

Norwegian defender Vadim Demidov had offers to play soccer in Spain and elsewhere in Scandinavia. But when Minnesota United expressed interest, he immediately reciprocated.

The Loons and Demidov agreed to a contract last week, and on Tuesday, United announced the deal uses Target Allocation Money, a fund for players making between $480,000 and $1 million.

The 6-foot-1, 176-pound center back/defensive midfielder said it's been a career goal to play in the U.S. after experiences in top international leagues, from Germany's Bundesliga to Spain's La Liga as well as in Norway and Russia.

"I was interested right away actually," Demidov told the Pioneer Press in a phone interview Tuesday from Norway. "The choice was quite easy. I was all-in for Minnesota."

Demidov said he was sold on the vision presented by United's Sporting Director Manny Lagos and new coach Adrian Heath as the Major League Soccer expansion franchise prepares for training camp Jan. 23.

The Loons' open their season March 3 at Portland, and play their first home game March 12 against fellow expansion team Atlanta at TCF Bank Stadium.

"I really wanted to be a part of something from the beginning in MLS," Demidov said. "When I talked to Manny and Adrian, I really believed in the things they said about the club and where we are going to take it with the new stadium (planned for St. Paul's Midway neighborhood) and the fans."

Demidov, 30, has played with SK Brann in Norway since 2014 and said he will move his wife, Christina, and 6-month-old son, Demian, to Minnesota. Lagos scouted Demidov during a trip through Scandinavia in late September and early October.

Demidov, who was born in modern-day Latvia, said he's primarily played center back, which is on the last line of defense, but has also played above that as a defensive midfielder.

"I'm a player who will do the work, any way that Adrian wants to use me," Demidov said.

LIDHOLM TO LEAVE TV

Chris Lidholm, who has been involved in broadcasting Minnesota's pro soccer matches since the 1990s, said Tuesday that he has been let go as United's TV play-by-play broadcaster.

"Twenty-four years was a great run," Lidholm said via Twitter. "Saddened not to continue with United into MLS in 2017. I wish the team well. Thank you fans, players and team."

Lidholm's replacement is not known. United has plans to add Kyndra de St. Aubin as color commentator and former Loons player Jamie Watson as a sideline reporter.

20. Atlanta United will open training camp in Florida

By Doug Roberson Atlanta Journal-Constitution - January 10, 2017

CARSON, Calif. Atlanta United will start its training camp in Bradenton, Fla., team president Darren Eales said Tuesday while attending the MLS combine in Carson, Calif.

The team will spend two weeks there at the IMG Academy. The team will train there from Jan. 23-Feb. 4.

Four to five MLS teams train in Florida, which gives Atlanta United scrimmage opportunities.

It has a preseason game scheduled against NPSL-side Chattanooga in Finley Stadium at 3 p.m. on Feb. 11, as well as games against MLS side Columbus on Feb. 18 at 4:30 p.m. and Seattle on Feb. 22 at 7:30 p.m., and USL-side Charleston on Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. to prepare for its inaugural season. Those games will be in Charleston, S.C. as part of the Carolina Challenge Cup.

The team will open the regular season hosting New York Red Bulls on March 5 at Georgia Tech's Bobby Dodd Stadium.

21. Bill Hamid pulls out of United States camp with knee injury

ESPNFC.com - January 11, 2017

D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid has withdrawn from United States national team training camp with a knee injury, U.S. Soccer said on Tuesday.

According to the Washington Post, Hamid aggravated his right knee, the same one in which a torn lateral meniscus caused him to miss four months last year, though this time MRI results were negative.

Hamid will not not be replaced in the squad for the January camp, Bruce Arena's first since replacing Jurgen Klinsmann as manager in November.

Arena will still have four other goalkeepers in camp: David Bingham, Stefan Frei, Nick Rimando and Luis Robles.

D.C. United is scheduled to open training camp in two weeks. Hamid is in the final year of his MLS contract and reportedly trained with Swansea City in November.

22. FC Dallas midfielder Mauro Diaz to remain out until June - Oscar Pareja

ESPNFC.com - January 10, 2017

FC Dallas does not expect star midfielder Mauro Diaz to return before June, coach Oscar Pareja says.

Diaz had surgery in October after tearing his Achilles tendon and missed the club's playoff run, and he will still be unavailable for at least the first two three months of the 2017 season.

"I'm not counting on having Mauro until June, and he knows this full well," Pareja told FutbolMLS.com.

Dallas has already moved to fill the void left by Diaz's injury by signing Javier Morales from Real Salt Lake, and Pareja backed the veteran to play a key role.

"I think with the breath of fresh air that he was missing, Javi is going to reinvent himself," Pareja said. "I believe deeply that he has much to give us, especially while Mauro recovers from his injury."

23. Honeymoon can wait: Dax McCarty ready to tackle new USMNT future

By Paul Tenorio FourFourTwo - January 9, 2017

Dax McCarty had waited years to get the call, but when he heard Bruce Arena tell him he was back in the U.S. national team picture, the New York Red Bulls midfielder couldn't fully celebrate.

McCarty is getting married Jan. 14, a few days after camp starts. A big moment in his life still had to take a back seat to an even bigger milestone.

By the way Bruce, sorry I'm getting married four days after camp starts and I'm going to have to ask you for some time to do that.

"It's one of those moments you just have to look at the irony of the whole situation," McCarty said. "When Jurgen lost his job and when Bruce got hired, I think a lot of players probably had a renewed sense of hope and optimism they'd get chance for the national team, and I was one of those guys.

"When I did get a call from Bruce it was funny because I was so thrilled and happy to get called for the national team, it's so important and I want to establish myself as an international player. But then I had to say, 'By the way Bruce, sorry I'm getting married four days after camp starts and I'm going to have to ask you for some time to do that.' ...

"He was very understanding. He said 'If you're lucky you only get married once, so enjoy it.'"

McCarty's fiancé, Jen Zyski, was even more understanding. She initially suggested McCarty join camp on time, then fly back for the day of the wedding. Instead, McCarty will remain in Orlando for his nuptials and then head across the country to Los Angeles on Sunday.

The couple picked the date during the crowded offseason window when most MLS players get married. Several other weddings forced them to choose a mid-January weekend, and when Jurgen Klinsmann was fired and Arena hired, the potential conflict with January camp became a more realistic possibility.

McCarty will be a few days behind in fitness, and surely it won't be easy to recover from the whirlwind wedding and cross-country trip, but it's worth it after waiting so long for a chance to be back in the national team picture.

McCarty was last called in to national team camp in January 2014, but he did not make an appearance in any of the friendlies. McCarty's last cap was in January 2011, a 1-1 tie with Chile.

Now, McCarty will try to prove he belongs in a national team pool that is searching for someone to add depth behind Michael Bradley and the 35-year-old Jermaine Jones. McCarty praised Bradley and Jones, but said he hopes to go and make a strong impression.

"I've been with the national team before, albeit under a different regime, but I know what it's like and what to expect," McCarty said. "The mindset I have is I'm not going to try to set the world on fire or try to be hero. I'm just going to go and play my game, I'm confident in my ability and know what I can bring to the table.

"The competition for the defensive midfield spot is intense and there are a lot of very good players that play that position. Certainly whoever stands out, Bruce is the type of guy if you're playing the best soccer in camp, he'll give you a chance. For players' confidence and mindset that's the best thing a coach can do."

McCarty also has plans for how to stay sharp, including a pick-up game the morning of his wedding. The competition won't be too bad. Among the players in the game: Orlando City's Brek Shea.

"Just one last good run out to get my touch down before camp," McCarty said, laughing. "It'll be good five-a-side. Brek's my No. 1 pick."

Robinson coveted in draft

The player likely to shake up the draft boards on Friday is Syracuse center back Miles Robinson.

The buzz at the combine is about the many teams looking to trade up into the top two spots to snag Robinson, a 6-foot-2 defender who just wrapped up his sophomore season with the Orange. Robinson especially impressed MLS teams with his performances for the U.S. under-20 national team, and he projects to be a top-end MLS starter if he continues on this path.

Robinson has made the picks held by Minnesota and Atlanta especially coveted.

Many assumed Atlanta would be keen on taking Robinson, especially because of what looks like a lack of depth on the back line. But Atlanta is in the process of signing two European center backs, according to a league source. One is a younger player from a big European club that is set to come on loan, the other is an older veteran defender.

With Zach Loyd and Michael Parkhurst already on board, it looks less likely that Atlanta would use the pick on Robinson, thus making the No. 2 pick a likely trade destination for teams looking to move up.

Minnesota is expected to use its No. 1 pick, though it, too, has been fielding offers from MLS teams trying to jump up the board. With so many needs still, it might make sense for Minnesota to move down the board and pick up assets, especially with no consensus No. 1 pick.

If they stay in that top spot, though, it's no shoo-in that United takes Jeremy Ebobisse, as widely expected. Sources indicate Atlanta is also looking into other options, including UCLA's Abu Danladi, Robinson and one sleeper, potentially Akron attacking midfielder Jonathan Lewis.

Final Third

Here's some more chit-chat from the MLS combine...

Odoi-Atsem a 'gem' - One of my favorite players in the draft is Maryland defender Chris Odoi-Atsem. I covered Odoi-Atsem when he was a high school defender at DeMatha Catholic in the D.C. area, and his maturity and character made him stand out then. That's carried over to the college game, where he was one of the most reliable players in the nation for Sasho Cirovski's powerhouse program.

Odoi-Atsem is probably the most underrated, unsung big-time player ... He also may be the only college player in the country without a Twitter account

"Chris Odoi-Atsem is probably the most underrated, unsung big-time player in college soccer," Cirovski told me in late September. "He's got a great chance to come in and start for a large amount of teams as a right back. He's probably the best 1-v-1 defender in the nation. He also may be the only college player in the country without a Twitter account. He's an incredible competitor, unbelievably focused in the way he plays. He's improved in terms of his attacking abilities, but he's a gem. I think he's going to project very well. You'll see him in the starting lineup of some MLS team next year."

Odoi-Atsem was a top-20 prospect this season, but he's shooting up draft boards. I don't see Odoi-Atsem slipping out of the top four of the draft, and a natural landing spot may be at No. 3 with the Chicago Fire, which is in need of a starting right back. Odoi-Atsem is considered by some to be an MLS-ready starter from Day 1.

The Maryland product had a very good showing on the first day of the combine that likely solidified him as the top right back in the draft. Odoi-Atsem said he was aware of the buzz around him, but he tries to tune it out.

"I always work hard and as far as the first round for me it's about being in the right system with the right team," Odoi-Atsem said Sunday. "If that comes later in the first round or the second round that's fine with me, as long as they give me the chance to make the team and make an impression."

Stock up - A few players helped themselves on the first day of the combine, none more than Louisville midfielder Daniel Johnson. The 5-9, 140-pound midfielder was fantastic in the opening game, assisting on two goals and drawing a penalty kick, and he definitely moved up a lot of teams' boards.

One team had been hoping Johnson might flop and stay off the radar. That didn't happen.

Other players who impressed included Wake Forest's Jacori Hayes, UCLA's Danladi and Hofstra midfielder Joe Holland. In the first game, UConn defender Jakob Nerwinski showed some great pace and UCLA's Jackson Yueill showed a good understanding of spacing and solid passing, though where he fits in MLS is still the big question.

Akron defender Danilo Radjen had a solid outing, as did Providence midfielder Julian Gressel, though he is German and his international status will likely hurt his stock.

24. Canada: TFC leads squad with six selections for camp

By Ridge Mahoney Soccer America - January 11, 2017

Six Toronto FC first-team players and one from TFC II have been called into Canada's first training camp of the year.

Toronto FC defender Ashtone Morgan, midfielders Jay Chapman and Jonathan Osorio, forwards Tosaint Ricketts, Jordan Hamilton, and Mo Babouli and Toronto FC II forward Raheem Edwards are in a 28-man squad named by head coach Michael Findlay for training and a friendly match Jan. 22 in Hamilton, Bermuda, against the host nation.

Players from four other MLS teams, several USL squads, and two NASL teams were also summoned. FC Dallas midfielder Tesho Akindele and Orlando City mid Will Johnson are the only players from an MLS team south of the border picked by Findlay. Cyle Larin (Orlando City) and David Edgar (Vancouver Whitecaps) are injured.

"We want to give our players an early advantage heading into their preseasons, but also give our staff an opportunity to observe, evaluate, and educate a larger group of players," Findlay said in a press release. "This project also provides an internal compet

Check out the Major League Soccer Statistics



Major League Soccer Stories from January 11, 2017


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central