MLS Soccer News

FC Dallas’ Brek Shea to represent US in U-23 friendly in Frisco – Dallas Morning News (subscription)

FC Dallas - Google News — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:51:13 +0000

FC Dallas' Brek Shea to represent US in U-23 friendly in Frisco
Dallas Morning News (subscription)
AP CHICAGO — Dallas midfielder Brek Shea and New York forward Juan Agudelo are among 23 players picked for the US under-23 roster for a training camp before Olympic qualifying next month. Shea and Agudelo were among five newcomers selected Thursday by …
Caleb Porter Calls In 23 Players For United States U-23 CampSB Nation
Shea, Agudelo highlight Porter's Under-23 camp rosterMajor League Soccer
United States U-23 coach Caleb Porter names 23 players to February training campGoal.com America
Big D Soccer (blog)
all 6 news articles »

Fire goalie Johnson to train with national team – Chicago Tribune

FC Dallas - Google News — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:43:21 +0000

Fire goalie Johnson to train with national team
Chicago Tribune
29 at FC Dallas Stadium. The camp, which opens Sunday and runs through March 1, will include scrimmages with FC Dallas and San Antonio of the North American Soccer League. Johnson will miss at least three Fire exhibitions while with the US team.

Shea, Agudelo, Kitchen, Opara and Morales picked for pre-Olympic qualifying … – Washington Post

DC United - Google News — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:40:53 +0000

Goal.com America

Shea, Agudelo, Kitchen, Opara and Morales picked for pre-Olympic qualifying …
Washington Post
Also new to the group are defenders Perry Kitchen of DC United, Ike Opara of San Jose and Alfredo Morales of Germany's Hertha Berlin. Shea and Agudelo have been regular selections with the full national team and will miss its Feb.
United States U-23 coach Caleb Porter names 23 players to February training campGoal.com America
Shea, Agudelo highlight Porter's Under-23 camp rosterMajor League Soccer

all 6 news articles »

San Jose Earthquakes’ Ike Opara makes U.S. under-23 soccer team camp roster – San Jose Mercury News

San Jose Earthquakes - Google News — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:32:18 +0000

San Jose Earthquakes' Ike Opara makes U.S. under-23 soccer team camp roster
San Jose Mercury News
By Elliott Almond The Earthquakes' Ike Opara entered the 2012 Olympic picture Thursday when he was named to the 10-day training camp roster for the US under-23 team. Opara, a centerback who missed most of the past two seasons with foot injuries, …

and more »

‘Zone L’ parking permit area returns to Northwest Portland for Timbers season – OregonLive.com

Portland Timbers - Google News — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 19:55:19 +0000

OregonLive.com

'Zone L' parking permit area returns to Northwest Portland for Timbers season
OregonLive.com
By Molly Hottle, The Oregonian View full sizeMolly Hottle/The OregonianThe new Zone L permit area signs recently posted in Northwest Portland. The zone limits visitor parking to 90 minutes on Portland Timbers game days. The bureau sent letters to …

and more »

American interracial marriage hits record high – Gant Daily

DC United - Google News — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:55:58 +0000

ABC News

American interracial marriage hits record high
Gant Daily
Washington, DC, United States (AHN) – The number of interracial marriages in the United States has more than doubled in the last two decades, and Americans have become more tolerant of such unions. According to a Pew Research Center study released …
Interracial Marriage Rises to All-Time HighWAMU

all 390 news articles »

Portland Timbers sign Franck Songo’o to a contract – OregonLive.com

Portland Timbers - Google News — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:20:06 +0000

Boxscore News

Portland Timbers sign Franck Songo'o to a contract
OregonLive.com
By Geoffrey C. Arnold, The Oregonian The Portland Timbers were ready to sign Franck Songo'o to a contract after his first week in training camp. But the Timbers wanted to watch him perform in a preseason game before inking a deal.
Portland Timbers sign Cameroonian midfielder Franck Songo'oBoxscore News
Timbers sign Cameroonian midfielder Songo'oMiamiHerald.com
Portland wraps HDC stay with winESPN (blog)
SB Nation -West Coast Radio
all 42 news articles »

David Ferreira Cleared To Practice With FC Dallas – SB Nation

FC Dallas - Google News — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:11:19 +0000

SB Nation

David Ferreira Cleared To Practice With FC Dallas
SB Nation
By Drew Epperley – Soccer Contributor Feb 16, 2012 – FC Dallas could be inching their way back into the Western Conference title discussion with the news of the 2010 MLS MVP David Ferreira being cleared to return to practice today.
David Ferreira cleared but remains question markESPN (blog)
FC Dallas News Update 2/15Big D Soccer (blog)
Kick Off: Big day in store for FC Dallas star FerreiraMajor League Soccer
Soccer America
all 9 news articles »

Nowak: Albright brings defensive depth, Cup pedigree to Philadelphia

Robert Casner — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:01:52 +0000

Versatile veteran provides insurance for talented back line

By Andy Jasner

philadelphiaunion.com

The Union recently brought Chris Albright to training at YSC Sports to see what he had left in the tank.

And they liked what they saw.

The veteran defender and three-time MLS All-Star, who signed on Tuesday, has played for four MLS clubs in a 13-year professional career. In that span, the Penn Charter High School graduate won three MLS Cup titles – with D.C. United in 1999 and with the LA Galaxy in ’02 and ’05.

Manager Peter Nowak had hinted recently that a veteran player might be brought in to help on the back line.

Enter Albright.

“We know he’s a native to Philadelphia and he’s been working with the guys at YSC,” Nowak said on a conference call Tuesday. “After a couple of meetings, the training sessions, the week goes by and we decided to offer him a contract, which he accepted. Of course, it’s going to help out Chris to be with us and he’s going to affect everyone around the team with his experience.

“It’s been a very good week for us with him. Chris will bring championship-caliber experience and we hope he will stay healthy and then help us throughout the season.”

The 33-year-old Albright has battled through injuries in recent years, but this was a low-risk, high-reward type of decision for the Union.

If captain Danny Califf, Carlos Valdés, Porfirio López or Sheanon Williams miss some time, Albright is there as an insurance policy. Albright is versatile enough to play multiple position along the back line.

“Chris knows his role,” Nowak said. “He needs to stay healthy to make sure everything is well. Then we’ll benefit from his experience, and if the time is right, of course he’s going to push for the starting spot. I think it’s a good thing for all of us.

“He plays the right back position. He plays the center back position because he can play those positions as well, either left or right. I think he has enough experience as well where he can play all those positions on the back line. It’s a good thing we can add this type of player. Chris has been in this league for many years and is a highly-regarded defender, so it’s good to have him, especially being a local boy.”

Albright is training with his new teammates in Florida. Like Albright has for the past 13 years, his work ethic will stand out.

It’s the only way he knows.

“The mentality through the training and also pushing the guys as well, the youngsters in training, is very vital,” Nowak said. “Chris is a great example. He trains very hard and tries to give it everything he has in training and also direct those guys in front of him as well. He’s been very good. The meetings were very good. We’re happy to have him because he’s a guy who is around the corner and we are looking at what will happen this season, but also trying to help him after his career is done.”

Before Albright retires, there is work to be done. If he can stay injury-free, he could become a vital cog for a Philadelphia side in search of a deeper playoff run in 2012.

“We try to keep the players throughout the season fresh,” Nowak said. “Even though some of the decisions of the lineup are questionable – not for us as a coaching staff, but for people who are looking from the outside in – we try to keep them fresh. We try to keep them healthy. We have enough resources and the medical staff can predict when the players are tired and need some time off, so we can shuffle the lineup a little bit so players will not get major injuries throughout the season.

“I think with Chris it’s the same. We need to see where we are after the two weeks, give him a couple days off. He’s not getting any younger, so he needs to take care of his body as well, but we will try to help him with every aspect, to keep him healthy, to keep him motivated and also being productive in the games and training.”

Scottish midfielder Barry Robson to join Vancouver Whitecaps – Vancouver Sun

Vancouver Whitecaps FC - Google News — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:01:46 +0000

Scottish midfielder Barry Robson to join Vancouver Whitecaps
Vancouver Sun
VANCOUVER – Scottish international midfielder Barry Robson will join the Vancouver Whitecaps as a designated player in July, the club announced today. News of the 33-year-old Middlesbrough playmaker's move to Vancouver had been reported in UK …