This Is American Soccer, US Soccer, MNT, WNT, and MLS - Tackling the subject of Soccer in the US, and worldwide.

GETTING CLOSER EDITION

Two Heads + One Foot = dangerous play? Or game-winning goal? You can’t take that goal away from Twellman, but both defenders retracted from the ball as Twellman’s fluorescent boot approached. Forget the referee, one of those Fire defenders needed to be ballsy enough to stick his head in there; the goal could have been easily (if but painfully) averted.

As we await the MLS Cup final to be set, the hot stove is piping. The off-season shuffle continues for MLS. Yallop with tail intact goes back to San Jose, while Arena gets shown the door with little if anything intact. Certainly he must wish he could explain away the nosedive the RBNY stars took heading into and during the playoffs. There are plenty of reasons to fire someone like Arena, but given Angel, Altidore, Reyna, and Mathis throwing nothing into an already weak playoff push, all the blame can’t sit on the coach’s shoulders.

Will we see L.A. or N.Y. try to create a MLS super power this off-season or will it be more bumbling from their front offices? Galaxy strike first - hire Ruud Gullit (really, that’s your sexy pick?). Now will NY counter? And why is there no talk of Alexi – bringing sexy back - Lalas leaving the Galaxy? How can anybody blame Yallop more than Lalas?

Must Read. The best story of the week comes from Bryan Rosenbaum of the Arizona Star who wrote the most unbelievable sentence of the week: “Emenalo was hired away from the Tucson Soccer Academy two weeks ago to become chief scout for Chelsea of the English Premier League.” Uh, come again? I love this little enclave of former soccer stars residing in the states… and working at the youth level!!! The hiring of the former Nigerian International furthers the growing interest in African talent. Question that remains: If he is good enough for Chelsea, why/how wasn’t he scooped up by USSF?

Roots. A close second place for read of the week is another great story with African roots and American connections. Tony Karon at Rootless Cosmopolitan has the story of South African Ace Ntsoelengoe.

French Kiss. Nathaniel Baker at the Soccer Source translates some MLS love from France.

Washington Post Wins. Even the non-Goff side of the Post covers soccer. Here, a do-good high school team.

Now with Altidore! The initial 17-man US MNT roster for the game against and in South Africa was announced this morning:

GOALKEEPERS (2): Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Tim Howard (Everton FC)
DEFENDERS (5): Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham FC), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Dan Califf (Aalborg BK), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Freddy Adu (SL Benfica), DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers), Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen), Maurice Edu (Toronto FC), Benny Feilhaber (Derby County), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Eddie Lewis (Derby County)
FORWARDS (3): Josmer Altidore (New York Red Bulls), Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)

From what we have seen since Bradley’s taking of the reigns these men look like his favorites. I think we’re getting closer to the likely starting eleven we’ll see for qualifying and 2010. Yes, I know its not even 2008, and yes some of these guys haven’t played much if at all, but is there any doubt that the likes of Adu and Altidore will be there in 2010? I say its time to throw them to the wolves with real playing time.

“Eight days after the Nov. 17 match, South Africa will host the Preliminary Draw for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The event, held in Durban, will determine the qualifying schedule for 156 countries spanning five confederations. The South American qualifying competition began Oct. 13 with all ten teams in action.”

Mascot Marauding. Pele’s timeless skill on the field is only challenged by his stupidity off the field. The world’s greatest player is little more than a clown these days. A mime would be preferred: seen, not heard.

And lastly, my good friends at Bumpy Pitch, home to some of the best boutique soccer wear, are having a special pre-sale for friends and family. Enter the code SS08 upon checkout to receive a 15 percent discount. I’m scooping up an Atlanta Apollos shirt. I’m a sucker for Atlanta gear especially now that I don’t live there anymore. Helping some lost tourists in Times Square today as the world walked by has me missing the courtesies of the South. But not the blazing hot summers. Autumn in New England is unbeatable.

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Banner Photo Credit: AP/Winslow Townson