The rumors of retirement didn’t change Ronnie Pascale’s mind. The Richmond Kickers announced that the USL-2 Goalkeeper of the Year will return for an unprecedented 11th season.

This is a great move by the Kickers. Pascale is jumping up in age but can still make some of the best saves you can see anywhere. I wouldn’t be surprised if Pascale hangs up the boots after this season, but I can understand that it’s hard to call it quits after winning the league title.

The season is going to start soon and I hope to get a little more up and running prior to the season.

Sepp Blatter, President of FIFA, pretty much has come out to say that the 2018 World Cup will probably be held in Europe. He really likes the idea of co-hosting in Europe. There are 2 groups in Europe wanting to co-host: Spain and Portugal, and Belgium and the Netherlands.

After reading this, if US Soccer wants to host a World Cup it is probably time to shift its power towards the 2022 campaign. Could this have come as a part of Blatter’s recent comments about MLS, wanting them to go to an August-May calendar, like the rest of the world. Also to add to this, it could also be the CBA issues going on with the league right now. I wonder if this is going to make Don Garber start to look at how MLS is being run…?

After the loss to Honduras, Bob Bradley needs to go back to the drawing board. There was not one moment in that match that I would even remotely consider good. The defense fell apart (especially with the quick sending off on Jimmy Conrad) and was really the reason for Honduras’ 2 or their 3 goals. Troy Perkins really could not be too much to blame in the situation. The defense literally crumbled as they got closer to the 18. Marvell Wynne is a very over hyped, under achieving defender. He was definitely the reason for the second goal and gave up a stupid foul in the end of the match. All I can say is if Bradley is smart, NO MARVELL WYNNE!

Another place that did not help the US was up front. Connor Casey is not the answer for the US. He may be good with his head, but if there is no speed, then you can kiss goal scoring goodbye. He has been known to botch great goal scoring opportunities (Remember when he missed the wide open goal during the 9th minute of the USA v. Costa Rica match that would have made the Charlie Davies celebration great!). Honestly, Bradley’s top 2 choices of Altidore and Donovan aren’t the answer either. I am and have never been a fan of Landycakes and Altidore is having a problem finding playing time at Hull City and could see a move back to the MLS.

I can see that after the World Cup Bob Bradley is no longer the USMNT Manager. I can see this move because all Bob Bradley does is use the same style as Bruce Arena. Some one that the US needs is a manager like Jason Kreis at Real Salt Lake. He has turned a club around from a screwed up expansion franchise who could win to save their lives, to MLS Cup champions.

I am very curious to see what Bradley comes up with when it comes time to release the final 23 man roster going to South Africa.

I can’t say I am completely sold on the signing of Onalfo. Most of this comes form the fact that with Kansas City, Onalfo was basically fired after a 6-0 defeat against FC Dallas. I have a felling though that it may have just been not the right fit for Onalfo at KC. With United, I am sure that he will have a little more leeway in how things can be done.

I will try to have a preseason write up soon, but with the amount of changes that could be coming (ie, Emilio not returning, possible new goal keeper and striker) I am going to hold off for some potential announcements.

UPDATE The Soccer Insider has posted that Ben Olsen has made the decision to retire. He also stated that he is not a candidate as a head coach, but the possibility of an assistant coach is still up in the air.

According to the DC United news source the Soccer Insider Ben Olsen is now considering the option of retirement. As the SI said, the idea was thrown around after last season with his 1 appearance last season.

Olsen is DC United. When you say DC United you think Ben Olsen. One would hope that when Olsen does decide retirement is necessary, he will stay with the club in some capacity. I do find it interesting though that he will give his decision next week and that kind of coincides with United most likely naming a new head coach after Thanksgiving (which happens to be next week). I’m not trying to start any rumors, but I figured I would make that connection. Say what you will. Side Note: Ben Olsen has actually been on the side lines before in 2008 at Cruz Azul as an assistant coach.

Should be an interesting couple of weeks ahead…

UPDATE Here is the press release from CPB

UPDATE 2 Pitch Invasion has learned that the league being started by the Team Owners Association could use the North American Soccer League name as the name of their league.

The Tampa Bay Rowdies and Crystal Palace Baltimore have now joined the Team Owners Association (TOA). This has brought the number of teams to 9 for the TOA, who will release a name for the league next week.

This is throwing the USL into chaos at this point. I wonder with this loss of teams if USL will decide to rework the league rules and spending to allow a merge of USL-1 and USL-2 and make it just United Soccer League.

As more news comes out I will try to update this page. Remember the USL Annual General Meeting (a meeting where the teams get together to work out scheduling) is from yesterday until the 22nd. There is the potential for a lot of news to come out.

I will also try to throw up a complete blog about my total thoughts on this whole situation probably Monday after the completion of the USL AGM.

Since I did one for VCU, I thought it was only fitting to have one for DC United. Tom Soehn has decided to step down as Head Coach after 3 seasons, a total of 7 seasons with the club. The DC United job is a very unique situation.

The first thing that will make it hard for United to draw in a coach is the stadium situation. It is hard to bring a coach in when the stadium you are playing in is falling apart around you. The second issue may be dealt with better after the passing of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (which the current one expires on Dec 31). That being how to deal with the roster, mostly looking at the veteran (higher paid) players. United needs to plan for a more fast paced game, but most of the veterans can not go 90 minutes in a slower paced match. This may not be an issue if the CBA is passed with what the clubs are looking for (i.e., doubling the salary cap, adding a second Designated Player, etc.).

The known candidates are Richie Williams (current interim head coach at Red Bull New York) and Curt Onalfo (former head coach at Kansas City), both former players at DC United. DC has met with both, naming them as the front runners in the position. Many are also throwing John Spencer (assistant at the Houston Dynamo) into the mix. Preki was even in for a bit, but it looks now that he will be named the head coach at Toronto FC.

Reports from the Soccer Insider that United probably will not make a decision on the head coach until after Thanksgiving. This choice is completely up in the air right now for United.

According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, VCU has “fired” (i.e., did not renew his contract) their men’s soccer coach Tim O’Sullivan. O’Sullivan has been with VCU for 15 years. VCU won the CAA Title between 2002-04 and has not done as well since. Here is who I think VCU need to look at.

I know he probably sees himself going elsewhere pro (which I think he mentioned recently) but I think a guy like Tom Soehn (former DC United head coach) would be a good pick up. He has the pro experience plus he knows how to prepare players that intend to enter the MLS SuperDraft.

Two other names that I would watch out for (to keep it local) is Mike Burke and Ronnie Pascale. Both play for the Richmond Kickers (along with a bunch of VCU players) and they are probably reaching the end of their time playing. I know that both have been coach youth teams (Pascale being a former VCU Goalkeeping Coach).

I’m very curious to see where VCU goes with this one. I would love to see VCU bring in someone who wants to press. It’s very risky, but if done right makes for very good matches. I think one key is to look at a coach who has seen some success in the MLS, whether as a head coach or even an assistant. These guys would have the right ideas, like I said about Tom Soehn, on how players should play and prepare beyond college.

This week the teams of the United Soccer League First Division were meeting in Beaverton, OR talking about the upcoming 2010 season under new owners, NuRock. One of the most interesting reports coming out of this meeting is talking about a possible hiatus for the USL Second Division. There are some facts to bring that truth out. Baltimore was in attendance for the meeting in Beaverton, with the Second Division holding their own meeting elsewhere. Also, the Wilmington Hammerheads have faced major money issues and are likely to not field a team in 2010.

Here is the report from USL.
Here is the report about the USL-2 hiatus next season.

I just found this article about strange stadium names after Newcastle United has renamed their stadium sportsdirect.com @ St. James’ Park. Thought I would pass it on to you guys!

From the UK’s Daily Mail