Major Link Soccer: New Years Eve Edition

Seattle

Starting tomorrow we can say good bye to 2014, but before we do that lets look back through the headlines at the Seattle Sounders 2014 Season.

January brought us a "Tottenham Friendly", a "Barrett signing", two new HGP in "Okoli & Kovar" , two  "Draft Picks"  a few "awards off the field" and finally "Preseason Training".

Febuary was "Yedlin's first cap", "Big Pappa in the house", Chivas sold back to MLS and "Re-branded" to LAFC.

March was a shift from "Pre-season to First Kick", leaving it late "Seattle wins opener" Toronto left Seattle with "Things to think about". Three Sounders called in for "USA vs. Mexico".

April started with a "Dempsey Hat-Trick", two players were "lost for the season", an early sign of things to come "Marshall & Martins make team of the week" and Dempsey finishes April with "A Deuce".

May gave us a "New Twitter Account", a "5-0 loss" to New England, 3 Sounders called into pre-World Cup camp, and "Goal of the Year" from Oba.

June had "Scott return to starting lineup" and not leaving, Seattle to Rio for Yedlin part 2 & 3, a 5-0 victory in US Open Cup, USA win 2-1 over Ghana, USA draw 2-2 with Portugal, Sounders advance to Quarterfinals. with a loss USA still progresses.

July started with a loss for Seattle and the USA, Dempsey returned to the club, Five Sounders named to "All-Star Game", Tottenham comes to town, and finally July ended with a loss.

August had Seattle opening a new stadium in San Jose, Yedlin was signed by Tottenham, with a 6-0 win Seattle advances to US Open Cup Final, August finished in style with a 4-2 win over Portland.

September call ups for "Marco Pappa" and "Jordan Morris", Seattle wins a fourth Open Cup, 4 game winning streak comes crashing down in New York.

October earns Seattle their 19th win of the season, Martins pulls in his 6th "Team of the Week" award, Supporters Shield to be decided in final two games, Seattle wins Supporters Shield, Oba signs new contract with Seattle.

November witnessed Seattle beat Dallas to advance, Chad Marshall win "Defender of the Year", Two best coaches in MLS History meet in Western Conference Final, A 1-0 loss in LA and a 2-1 win at home had Seattle losing on the new Away Goal rule.

December started with Marshall & Martins named to MLS best XI,  Martins winning "Goal of the Year", Hahnemann announcing his retirement, S2 is announced as Seattle's USL team, New HGP Victor Mansaray is called into U18 national team, Yedlin completes transfer to Tottenham, and finally 2014 ends with Seattle signing Tyrone Mears.

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Week 1 of the 2015 MLS schedule has already been announced with Seattle's first home game vs. New England on Sunday March 8th. January 7th the rest of the 2015 MLS schedule will be released to the public. This is exactly the news all the "Hardcore MLS fans" are looking for.

DeAndre Yedlin will officially become a Tottenham Hotspur player January 1st. According to his new coach Mauricio Pochettino, playing time for Yedlin will be dependent on how he adapts on and off the pitch. Off the pitch should be no problem for Yedlin as he is already known as "The most stylish man in Soccer".

Every MLS team wants their own triple S  (Soccer Specific Stadium) Seattle is no different. SP takes a look at four locations in Seattle that could provide the triple threat.

MLS

David Beckham has battled for the last year to find a home for his team in Miami. His contract allowed him to buy an MLS franchise for a cut rate price of only $25 Million dollars, but without a home (stadium) to call their own, Beckham's dream may only be temporary.

Wigan Athletic's Honduran international midfielder Roger Espinoza is to leave the Championship club in January. Espinoza has stated several times over the last 6 months that he was home sick and wanted to return to KC.

Chicago went looking in the deep south for their latest signing. Adailton brings a journeyman pedigree so to speak. Having spent 3 seasons in France, 2 in Switzerland, a season in China, and 6 years in his home country of Brazil.

A new year brings another January USMNT camp. Mostly made up of MLS player and out of season European players. Two friendlies against Chile (Away Jan 28th) and against Panama (Home Feb 8th) will allow those who attend the camp an opportunity to shine. Will we see anyone on this list in those games?

US Soccer

2014 for the US national team was full of highs and lows. Players came home, players retired, players lingered on the bench overseas, young guns filled the ranks, and then there was Jurgen vs. The Don.

When the U-20 CONCACAF Championship starts Jan 9th in Jamaica, 9 of the 12 competing teams will have ties to the USA. Players either born or bred in the USA will take the field for countries other than the USA. Is this a sign of things to come with the growth of academies, college, and MLS.

Tim Howard is on a year sabbatical from the US Soccer team. He is now on a 4-6 week break from his club team Everton. Howard tore his calf muscle during last Friday's game against Stoke.

USMNT player Eric Lichaj has signed a two and a half year extension with Nottingham Forrest. Lichaj made his 50th appearance for the Reds last Sunday. Nottingham currently are in tenth place in the English League Championship.

Oguchi "Gooch" Onyewu continues his English adventure with a 6 month extension at Charlton Athletic. This will keep the former AC Milan player at the club until the end of the season.

World

Considered a future star or "Once in a Generation player" within US Soccer. Zack Steffan left Sunday for Germany to start is professional career. He also hopes to play in the U-20 World Cup in 2015. Steffan's path is eerily starting to resemble that of Kasey Keller's and Tim Howard's.

If you were asked to name the most "successful domestic club in European history" you would start with Barcelona (22 La Liga titles), Juventus (30 Serie A titles), and Bayern Munich (24 Bundesliga titles). Would you have named FC Vaduz of Liechtenstein?

Ajax can lay claim to some of the most successful Dutch players and coaches in the 20th century. The likes of Louis Van Gaal, Ronald Koeman, Marco Van Basten, and Rinus Michels. But the most successful coach in Ajax history is an Englishman named Jack Reynolds and his story is worth reading.

The "Silly Season" starts one second after midnight on January 1st. Buying, selling, trading, and rumors will make the headlines for the next month.

2014 ends for Cristiano Ronaldo with a trophy. Ronaldo won the "Best Player of 2014" at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai. Ronaldo is also tipped to win the Ballon d'Or early next month.

Finally to end the year here are some bloopers and goals.