Summer transfer roundup

Columbus Crew

IN: Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Boca Juniors), Alejandro Moreno (Houston Dynamo), Andrei Pacheco (W Connection)
OUT: Danny Sztela (Racing Santender), Joseph Ngwenya (Houston Dynamo

Chivas USA

IN: Ramon Nunez (FC Dallas)
OUT:

Colorado Rapids

IN: Mehdi Ballouchy (Real Salt Lake), Daniel Osorno (Atlas), Tony Sanneh (Chicago Fire)
OUT: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake)

Chicago Fire

IN: Wilman Conde Jr. (Milonarios), Cuauhtemoc Blanco (America)
OUT: Thiago (released), Tony Sanneh (released)

DC United

IN:
OUT:

FC Dallas

IN: Denilson (Al-Nasr), Juan Sebastián Botero (Independiente Medellín)
OUT: Ramon Nunez (Chivas USA)

Houston Dynamo

IN: Joseph Ngwenya (Houston Dynamo)
OUT: Alejanro Moreno (Columbus Crew)

Kansas City Wizards

IN: Eloy Colombano (LP Estudiantes), Carlos Marinelli (no club)
OUT:

Los Angeles Galaxy

IN: Israel Sesay (Bethesda Arsenal), David Beckham (Real Madrid), Chris Klein (Real Salt Lake), Edson Buddle (Toronto FC), Abel Xavier (Middlesborough FC), Carlos Pavon (Real Espana)
OUT: Nathan Sturgis (Real Salt Lake), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake)

New England Revolution

IN: Sainey Nyassi (Ports Authority FC)
OUT: Arsene Oka (released), Ryan Solle (released)

New York Red Bulls

IN: Francis Doe (Atromitos FC)
OUT: Elie Ikangu

Real Salt Lake

IN: Javier Morales (Salamanca), Fabian Espindola (Sociedad Deportivo Quite), Matias Mantilla (Defensores de Belgrano ), Kyle Beckerman (Colorado Rapids), Nathan Sturgis (Los Angeles Galaxy), Robbie Findley (Los Angeles Galaxy)
OUT: Freddy Adu (Benfica), Chris Klein (Los Angeles Galaxy)

Toronto FC

IN: Kenny Stamatopoulos (Tromso)
OUT: Andy Welsh (Blackpool)

*This is not a complete list. I am editing in all the moves that happened between June and August. If you see anything that is incorrect or a missing transfer, please feel free to post as a comment. Keep in mind that I'm editing in more.

New York Cosmos 2.0?

The latest news out of LaLa land involves not a player move, but rather a switch to the backroom staff. The (heavily) rumored move involves the resignation of Frank Yallop, bringing in former German national team coach Jürgen Klinsmann as a replacement.

Seeing as Chelsea and Tottenham have also been linked with Klinsi, I'm not sure that this is much more than a rumor, but he loves LA and I'm sure the Galaxy could find some loophole to get him here.

Stay tuned.

Sweden v USA afterthoughts

Never have I seen the US come out as flat as they have tonight. Most of our best players, a deflated Swedish performance, and a small crowd, yet we still couldn't beat them? Hell, we didn't even get ten shots! I was very disappointed by Steve Cherundolo's performance, I'd expect more from him. The defense overall was fairly shaky, and the late defensive subs of Johnathan Spector and Jay DeMerit were invisible. Another person who was invisible was Landon Donovan. When that happens, you know something's gone wrong. There wasn't anything positive I could really say about tonight's game, though I was pleased by Pablo Mastroeni, and I think Bradley made the wrong choice taking him off at the half.

Rosters set for USA v Sweden

August 22, 2007
2:30 p.m. ET
Göteborg, Sweden
Fox Soccer Channel, Galvision

SWEDEN

GOALKEEPERS (2): Rami Shaaban (Fredrikstad FK), Johan Wiland (IF Elfsborg)
DEFENDERS (6): Matias Concha (VfL Bochum), Erik Edman (Stade Rennais FC), Petter Hansson (Stade Rennais FC), Daniel Majstorovic (FC Basel), Olof Mellberg (Aston Villa), Mikael Nilsson (Panathanaikos)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Niclas Alexandersson (IFK Göteborg), Daniel Andersson (Malmö FF), Kennedy Bakircioglü (Ajax Amsterdam), Dusan Djuric (Halmstads BK), Samuel Holmén (IF Elfsborg), Kim Källström (Lyon), Tobias Linderoth (Galatasary), Fredrik Ljungberg (West Ham United), Christian Wilhelmsson (Bolton FC)
FORWARDS (5): Marcus Allbäck (FC Copenhagen), Johan Elmander (Tolouse), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter Milan), Rade Prica (Aalborg BK), Markus Rosenberg (Werder Bremen)

UNITED STATES

GOALKEEPERS (2): Marcus Hahnemann (Reading FC), Tim Howard (Everton FC)
DEFENDERS (6): Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham FC), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Jay DeMerit (Watford FC), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)
MIDFIELDERS (6): DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers), Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen), Bobby Convey (Reading FC), Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC), Benny Feilhaber (Derby County), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids)
FORWARDS (5): Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF), Kamani Hill (VfL Wolfsburg), Josh Wolff (1860
Munich), Sal Zizzo (Hannover 96)

It's cozy up here in 1st place

New England have a habit of messing up when it counts. Fortunately, we were able to pull off a win against Kansas City at home, a feat we haven't been able to accomplish in 11 previous attempts. The game was back and forth all night, and was as tactical as a game could have been. The genius of Steve Nicol and Curt Onalfo clashed in what has been one of the most exciting mental games I've seen. There have loads of better games in terms of skill, but rarely have I seen a better thinking game.

Both teams came out with their full squad, with the only major change being Avery John in for James Riley at New England's left back position. This was surely done as a method of cutting off Eddie Johnson, which when teamed up with Shalrie Joseph, was a terrific success.

The first half was a battle of keepers with former Los Angeles teammates Kevin Hartman and Matt Reis manning the posts for their respective teams. Both keepers were impressive in parrying shots, constantly being tested by the sublime skill in both teams attack. Hartman was forced to deal with the lethal Taylor Twellman and Pat Noonan combo, with support from Andy Dorman, Steve Ralston and Khano Smith, while Matt Reis was kept busy with MLS leading scorer Eddie Johnson and service from Carlos Marinelli. The first half ended with 17 total shots, two yellow cards, and a 0-0 scoreline. Hardly the game you'd expect from MLS' two top scoring clubs.

The second half however was a different story. Both coaches kept their original lineups, but had obviously changed tactics a bit. New England came out the aggressor in this half, with KC relying on the counter attack. In the 55th minute, Khano Smith belted a cross to Taylor Twellman, who wisely headed it towards Pat Noonan, finishing an easy ball and giving New England the 1-0 lead. The game seemed to switch to the defensive until the 80th or so minute, when both coaches started to make changes, Adam Cristman being one of them. With little time to play, Cristman recieves a ball at the half, give-and-goes it to Steve Ralston, who returns the service at the top of the box and an easy finish form the rookie give New England the insurance goal in the 91st minute.

New England keep their unbeaten streak on turf intact, beat a strong KC team, and cement 1st place in the East.....at least for the time being. Both teams played strong and the scoreline doesn't accurately reflect the play, but a win is a win and Revs fans can go home happy. With Kansas City off for over two weeks, and New England welcoming DC United and Los Angeles this week alone, you've got to hope that the Revolution can stake their claim on 1st place.

Man of the Match:

Avery John/Shalrie Joseph

I can't just give it to one as their tandem shut down KC's most dangerous threat in Eddie Johnson. The Caribbean duo's physicality took it's toll on Johnson, and allowed him only a handful of chances, the most dangerous being a Reis deflection that hit the post. Shalrie continues to do the dirty work while John seems to have finally impressed enough to replace James Riley in the starting left back position.