Fern Mc Costigan

Thursday, February 4, 2016

Are the Boys from the LA Galaxy Ready for Primetime this 2016?

It sure looks like the La Galaxy and its Boss Bruce Arena, are making all sorts of preparations ahead of making Tinsel Town once again vibrate with all the excitement of Major League Soccer prime-time.

By reinforcing every position possible in this squad initial eleven adding to an already star-studded squad that includes top rated players in Gio Dos Santos, Robbie Keane and Steven Gerrard.

After a disappointing 2015 campaign and seeing how this club went down in the league postseason easily, this time the American version of the Galactic’s are outraged and they are poised to take the league by storm.

I mean with new faces in their roster of the likes of England’s top rated defender and legendary Ashley Cole to cover the hole left by Omar Gonzalez.

By adding more fire and explosiveness to their game, the LA squad brought in with much fanfare former Netherlands international midfielder Nigel de Jong as well reinforcing their defensive backfield with another big name in Belgian sensation Jelle Van Damme.

Making this squad a one tough customer to beat and possibly see them in the league finals once again with the lineup already presented and possibly more to come as rumors persist of a reunion of Gio and his Brother Jona Dos Santos.

These later one currently playing in Spain’s La Liga with the Yellow Submarine of Villarreal CF, the spectacular approach for the Angelinos and its Hollywood style lineup will indeed generate a lot of enthusiasm.

As well, generate a much-awaited top rated game that last campaign suddenly was lost in the last months of league play, the quality was not there when needed, and the results were evidently clear after being eliminated in the knockout round.

In Tinsel Town, this time it is business as usual and with seriousness that can drive this squad once again to the limits of stardom and utmost superiority in all confines of MLS.

Still we have a month to see how the new reinforcements will adapt to this league game as well new squads, playing in the summertime, something the new player aren’t accustomed to the heat some cities of the Union will influence in their game.

So far, this squad is one heavily favorite to be among the league elite of squads and their outlook of a successful 2016, as last campaign the Galaxy only won 14 matches to 11 losses and 9 draws.

The prospects of making a better stand from last campaign when this squad at the end showed off a meltdown and lack of a quality game, getting into a winless slump after being atop the Western Division in the majority of the campaign.

For now manager Bruce Arena will have to juggle with many challenges ahead of this campaign and seek the best formula to adapt his new players to his game scheme and strategies that have made him one of the best ever American Managers.

At the end the Los Angeles Galaxy will make the Western Division a tough one this campaign and a very competed one ahead of what many see a much disputed campaign in this upcoming edition of Major League Soccer.

Primetime is a good match for the Boys of Tinsel Town, who are seeking their rightful place among the league elite and delivering more shields to the halls of Stub Hub Center at Carson, California.

Crest Credit and Property of LA Galaxy 2016

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

FC Dallas Poised for Higher Things

Something that last campaign saw a resurgent and ambitious FC Dallas playing in the Western Conference semifinals, by almost caressing the always-coveted Supporters Shield and the league Cup final.

As they state, so close and with no cigar, was the way the Hoops campaign came to an abrupt end, after posting a wonderful and successful campaign in their books, especially by winning the Western Conference Pennant.

This honor put them into a direct competition with the New York Red Bulls for the always prestigious Supporters Shield, that at the end the former Burn- loss by just a percentage of a point to the Boys of the Big Apple.

Still the past buried behind and for the Texans Boss Oscar Pareja will be business as usual and with a new faces in the Toros roster, once again this club will be one of the favorites to win it all in this campaign.

With new faces coming into Frisco, Texas and reinforce this squad in every position possible, their hopes deposited in Maxi Urruti, Maynor Figueroa, Carlos Gruezo and Juan Esteban Ortiz.

Very well with a successful draft and picking top-notch player and future prospects in Jacob Speed and Colin Bonner and with the addition of a homegrown talent in Aaron Guillen.

This squad can make a living hell to its rivals especially in the Western Conference with its Latin attack that can really mount a spectacle of a game and its attack.

Something that FC Dallas front office went on the task of assembling once again a competitor to Manager Oscar Pareja to see a repeat of last campaign success and seek once again the always-elusive MLS Cup.

Considered as an historical squad, ever since the league founding in 1996; this club has been a part of this association and only played in one grand finale and seeing their luck going down the drain.

It is the reason for this Texan club to mount an armada with this new group of talented players that can really mount an all-around challenge to front in what many see a very disputed and contested 2016 campaign.

At the end, the FC Dallas always be seen as an elite team that will be among the big guns of MLS challenging for the ultimate of glories and with a returning first squad and reinforcements, the Hoops once again will be the team to beat.

Along of getting into the league postseason and conserved as a heavy favorite to be in the league utmost spot in its finals going for that MLS Cup to adorn the halls at Toyota Park.

As well do the ultimate of feats and maybe surprise everyone in all of Major League Soccer circles, nothing is impossible for a club aiming for the ultimate of challenges and glories.

Crest Credit and Property of FC Dallas 2016

The New Bloods of Team USA Assured a Dramatic Win!

An exhibition dubbed as a major test, after a facing a resurgent and surprising Icelandic National Squad, were the visiting Nordic squad really became a handful to the Yanks.

With a match resolved on the last minute and thanks to a hungry DC United defender Steve Birnbaum who was in the right place and time to net the decider and gave the Stars and Stripes the win in a dramatic way.

Still for Manager Jürgen Klinsmann giving the opportunity to new players and despite the win, the German National really got his wishes by seeing an American squad so dominant but with many flaws in its game.

As the visiting Nordics really put on a fight and even though the Americans dominated the match and the possession of the ball, the visitors really took advantage of the holes the US defenders left, exposing its weakness.

For Manager Klinsmann using a 4-4-2 scheme, contraire to the Icelandic 4-5-1 that lone forward became a headache to the American backfield and the posts defended by Luis Robles.

For the visiting National squad Bosses Heirs Lagerback and Heimir Hallgrimsson, hailed by their countryman as total heroes after doing the impossible of qualifying their Boys to this edition of Euro 2016.

After all the Iceland National earned its first ever participation to this tournament leaving Turkey and the almighty Netherlands out of this tourney in a surprising way.

By showing off a very offensive and defensive team, both of Iceland utmost players were the responsible of penetrating the Stars and Stripes goal with goals the 13^th minute by Kristinn Steindorsson and in the 48^th by Aron Sigudarson.

In this match, the Yanks really showed off a new image as well a hunger to win alongside many of its players looking for a permanent spot ahead of the CONCACAF qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup and this year Olympics at Rio.

Not bad offensively for the Americans with a Jozy Altidore responding to the visitors on the 20^th minute and then on the 58^th with a Michael Orozco play that kept the game even until the ninety minute and with the heroics above mentioned.

As many state that, a win is a win, the Stars and Stripes really showed off signs of new life and by far Manager Jürgen Klinsmann continues his work ahead, despite the banners in Stub Center stands asking for his removal.

For the German National Boss of Team USA he will keep working ahead with his agenda and institute a new winning mentality to his players as well return the Stars and Stripes squad into the top spots of its Confederation.

With a competitive field of new players and veterans seeking a spot in the National squad, the task of forming a combative and belligerent squad, there is no doubt the Stars and Stripes, is a squad for real and can take any challenge ahead with no problem.

Very well, start once again its dominance to its region utmost rivals, by erasing last year bitter results that many were asking for the man at the USMNT helm his resignation.

Monday, February 1, 2016

Can the DC United End its Pennant Drought this 2016?

With a squad, that has inscribed many memorable pages in its history and especially in Major League Soccer, as one of its original members since this association inception.

The Black and Red has been one of the most successful squad’s that has won it all from MLS Cups to Supporters Shields, US Open Cup to the prestigious CONCACAF Champions and Interamericana Cups.

A proud squad, indeed, with Ben Olsen a former player and now Manager of the United Boys- who last campaign saw his aspirations deflated on the postseason, after losing to a hardened NY Red Bulls squad.

Still this squad is once again ready to front the rest of the competed pack on the eve of another campaign that promises to be a much disputed one- match per match.

Just leave it to the Black and Red who last campaign showed off a record of 15 wins, 13 losses and 6 draws and as a visiting squad did not do very well, posting a not so positive record.

These are some of the flaws that DC United Boss Olsen, has to fix and make this squad one mean competitive machine and a contender once again within the league and especially that Eastern Conference, known for their squads eagerness to win.

Nevertheless, the prospects of this club once again involved in the league postseason but with its top rated and utmost spectacular initial eleven, their trip to the league finals can be within reach if there is more seriousness and ambition.

For the this club front office top men Dave Kasper all the way to Manager Ben Olsen, these two they are in need of working some magic in netting important players.

That so far the arrival of Seattle’s Lamar Neagle, Chicago’s Patrick Nyarko and before finishing this post, the arrival of Marcelo Sarvas will give this squad a lot of depth in its attacking options and with a returning first squad.

The outlook for the DC United is looking a bit positive; alongside if they maintain a healthy squad; this will be their year with no doubt of the DCU and possibly netting some important shields no won from quite some time.

Another interesting prospect is the arrival of the new draftees in Paul Clowes and Julian Buescher that are giving Manager Ben Olsen high hopes for the future of his squad and possibly seeing them in the club initial lineup sooner than later.

At the end, the DCU always known to be one of those tough clients hard to beat and be played with lots of respect, the way this club will perform in this campaign will undoubtedly will be of an all-around contender.

Another set of good news for the DCU, are the announcements of Buzzards Point, finalizing the last details of the new home of the Black and Red that in 2018 will be opening of its colossus to call its own on Potomac and Half Street.

This is it, will the DC United Boys make a prosperous run in this 2016, time will be their best ally as well their game played with the best of intentions and hunger, ending a long drought, the possibilities abound!

Crest Credit and Property of DC United 2016