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Seattle
The University of Washington will be losing their left back to MLS. All American Senior Andy Thoma was due to attend the MLS combine this weekend in Florida. Monday brought better news with MLS signing Thoma ahead of the 2015 draft.
From taking the starting spot in spring training to running down Eden Hazard at the World Cup "It has always been happening so fast" for DeAndre Yedlin. Now in England with Tottenham it doesn’t look to be slowing down anytime soon.
The rumor that broke on December 15th came true Tuesday. The Seattle Sounders hired Garth Lagerwey as their new General Manager & President of Soccer Operations. Seattle will now benefit on two fronts. A true "Soccer Guy" in Lagerwey running soccer operations from first team down to the academy, and a true "Business Guy" in Hanauer directing the business side for the Sounders.
MLS
NYCFC signed Frank Lampard then loaned him to Manchester City, and we all know how that went down. Knowing they still need a center mid, NYCFC may have found one in USMNT player Mix Diskerud.
The other team in New York made a move Tuesday night firing the only coach who has brought the Red Bulls a trophy. Don't cry for Mike Petke, maybe he can join his former assistant in Toronto! That idea sounded better in our heads... As for the New York vacancy, I hear Thierry Henry is available and still has a house in New York.
Going from the cloudy weather of Liverpool to the sunshine of LA won’t be hard for Steven Gerrard. Figuring out where he will fit in on the field is another story.
BREAKING via @JeffreyCarlisle: Steven Gerrard to join LA Galaxy (18-month pro-rated deal, $6m per year). More soon on http://t.co/bCtGb5fcSR
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 3, 2015
Former Seattle Sounder and Jamaican International Tyrone Marshall has been hired by Real Salt Lake. Marshall will be an assistant coach under Jeff Cassar filling the void left by Craig Waibel’s move to the Technical Director role.
Sporting KC welcome home Roger Espinoza for the 2015 season. In his two years away, Espinoza won the FA Cup with Wigan and played in the 2014 World Cup with Honduras.
Seattle wasn’t the only team to hire a new club President this week. Atlanta is starting to put their front office together in preparation for entry into MLS in 2017.
He has stopped war, won the Champions League, and had the Vatican pay tribute. Is it time for MLS to bring this true star to the US?
US
Juergen Klinsmann has stated he wants to focus on youth in 2015 in preparation for the 2016 Olympics. Looking at a projected roster of the Olympic team youth with experience will be in abundance.
One player who has seen his stock rise in the USMNT camp is Alejandro Bedoya. Currently playing for Nantes in Ligue1, the New Jersey native has paid his dues overseas and plans to stay there.
World
The song "Smoking in the Boys Room" was a big hit in the 80’s. No one told Wojciech Szczesny smoking in the bathroom wasn't allowed. Poor guy was caught and fined recently.
At 16 most of us were still popping zits in the bathroom. Martin Odegaard is riding private jets, winning Young Player of the Year in Norway, and reportedly signing for Real Madrid.
Almost every soccer league in the world has a points system similar to the EPL. The team team with the most points at the end of the season are crowned s champions. This type of system is not always competitive; can the NFL show the EPL how to make it competitive again?
Known as the strongest man in soccer and nicknamed "The Beast", Adebayo Akinfenwa found an entirely new fan base after he scored against Liverpool on Monday.
I leave you with an old goal that has it all. Skill (guy taking the throw-in), acrobatics (goal scorer), and of course the celebration.