The podders look back on all the midweek European action. Also up for discussion: Swansea’s six-pointer with Crystal Palace; Bayern’s second defeat in a week; and another new manager at CharltonSubscribe and review: iTunes, Soundcloud, Audioboom, Mixcloud, Acast & Stitcher.On today’s Football Weekly Extra, AC Jimbo is joined by Barry Glendenning, John Ashdown and international man of mystery Philippe Auclair to look back on a stonking midweek of European action. Continue reading...
The Galaxy coach will replace Jürgen Klinsmann. But if he is a stop gap until 2018, who are the long-term candidates?Let’s get the obvious out of the way — Bruce Arena is the USA coach until at least the 2018 World Cup. In Arena’s favor, he’s done the job before, knows the US set up, and has also taken them to a World Cup quarter-final in 2002. Though if you’re going to consider that a success, you also have to consider the failure to get out of the group in 2006. Related: US Soccer confirm Bruce Arena will replace Jürgen Klinsmann Related: US fans wanted Jürgen Klinsmann out but they may come to regret his exit Continue reading...
A report this week says 88% of US fans back ‘pro-rel’ but a lack of any clear plan – or willingness on behalf of owners – remains an obstacleIn a more conventional soccer universe, Indy Eleven might be preparing for a 2017 season against the likes of the Los Angeles Galaxy and Seattle Sounders. In only their third campaign, the team from Indianapolis finished second in the second-tier North American Soccer League: runners-up in the standings to the New York Cosmos, who also beat them on penalties in the championship playoff. With average attendances of about 8,500, the club is hoping to get approval for an 18,500-seat stadium. In a couple of years it is not hard to imagine Indy...
With big names leaving and a cross-city rival preparing to take the stage, the time could be ripe for MLS’s most successful team to reinvent itselfWhile Major League Soccer doesn’t trade in pure transfer market currency like most other leagues, the Designated Player system burdens a player with the same pressure as a hefty price tag. With only three DP spots handed to each team there is a clearly defined expectation placed on them. They are signed to be better than the rest. Robbie Keane handled that pressure better than the rest.The Irishman may well go down as the greatest DP in MLS history with eulogies of his career Stateside flowing after it was announced he is to leave the...
The former England captain has departed the LA Galaxy. And he always gave the impression of a man who valued the Californian lifestyle over MLSThere were more than a few familiar aspects to Steven Gerrard’s last appearance on a Major League Soccer pitch. Not for the first time, he stroked home a penalty past Tim Howard as the LA Galaxy vied with the Colorado Rapids for a place in the Western Conference final. And again, not for the first time, the 36-year-old finished a shoot-out on the losing side. It was an appropriate way for Gerrard to bring this stint of his career to a close.Of course, that isn’t reflective of the glittering 18-year career Gerrard has enjoyed, during which...