Sunday Cup-o-American soccer: Player solidarity, USWNT camp, and Freddy Adu

Another week is in the books and it’s been a busy one for US Soccer. Between all the games, player moves and rumors, our humble blog can’t just cover all of the happenings. Luckily you can catch up here...

Player power grows

Last week the MLS Black Players for Change joined with the NBA Player’s Association in a video calling for an end to police brutality. This week the Black Women’s Player’s Collective launched including members of the USWNT past and present.

ESPN with some hype about Dest and Berhalter on the Champions League

The big network has a look at what the Sergino Dest move means for the USMNT according to Jurgen Klinsmann. The article also includes comments from Gregg Berhalter about why the Champions League is so important for USMNT players. To the current Team USA manager, the games are a proving ground for what the World Cup demands of players and it bodes well that 10 Americans are going to the group stage.

Landon Donovan on the end of the San Diego Loyal season

Charles Boehm, writing for US Soccer Players, interviewed Landon Donovan after the abrupt end to the San Diego Loyal season last week. The article discusses what Donovan hopes comes from his team’s decision to abandon its match and forfeit a game it was winning. The manager also shared his perspective on what USL can do in the future when similar situations arise.

Vlatko Andonovski discusses a difficult road to USWNT camp

2020 has not gone according to plan for the USWNT. Obviously, due to the pandemic the team has been significantly less busy than it planned to be. One wrinkle in the aftermath of the outbreak is that many American players departed for England with an abbreviated NWSL season. This left USWNT manager Vlatko Andonovski needing to prepare and scout differently for the October camp. Meg Linehan of the Athletic has a look at what his preparations have been like as the team comes together this month.

Chris Richards interview reveals potential MLS to Europe pipeline

It has obviously been a long time coming, but it seems like the potential for MLS to develop and send young Americans abroad is being realized. Chris Richards discussed how he sees this playing out with World Football Index in an interview with Chris Smith. The whole interview is worth checking out, but Richards touches on why having so many Americans in Europe now will be helpful for future Yanks who move abroad and how the transfer revenue heading to MLS could transform the league.

HE’S BACK

It seems only fitting that as the future of American soccer seems so bright that Freddy Adu’s name would pop up once again. The now 31 year-old has signed with a club in Sweden’s third tier. Order your Osterlen kits to complete your Freddy Adu collection.