MLS Insider Blog

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

Apparently playing top-level soccer in front of thousands of adoring fans and getting paid millions for it isn’t enough for some people. Speaking to the Washington Examiner about AC Milan’s upcoming slate of friendlies, midfielder Clarence Seedorf said, “We’re just not motivated, but we are professionals and we’re going to try to entertain the people.”

Wouldn’t it be more entertaining for people to watch a motivated team? And broadcasting your aloofness certainly won’t incite a riot at the box office by those hoping to purchase tickets. Better luck next time, Clarence.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

Will Oguchi Onyewu start against the Czech Republic tonight in East Hartford? Will he even see the field? I suspect so on both accounts but even if my prediction is wrong his definitely back on the publicity circuit.

Yesterday the big man paid a visit to ESPN to talk recovery, World Cups past & present and his quasi-scandalous photo shoot in ESPN the Magazine. The answers may come across a little canned but what else should we expect; you have to re-acclimate to interviewing just like you have to re-acclimate to playing I guess.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

The Daily EXTRA is back with another look at the latest news out of USMNT camp in Princeton, NJ. Today was all about the return of Oguchi Onyewu and his post-practice press conference.

The big man was fairly open about most things relating to his rehab and his outlook on the upcoming World Cup but his unconventional contract extension with AC Milan was something he was a bit more hesitant to discuss. Nick Firchau and Jaime Uribarri touch on all of this and more from Myslik Field.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

The game is cruel, and today no one knows this more than David Beckham. After valiantly staying on the field for AC Milan after receiving a deep, potentially scaring cut to his right cheek the world’s most recognizable soccer player suffered a potentially World Cup-killing injury in today’s Serie A match against Chievo.

According to Sky Sports News, the on-loan LA Galaxy midfielder ruptured his left Achilles tendon in the dying minutes today’s match against Chievo. With surgery reportedly scheduled for Monday in Finland, the England national team legend and global icon faces a lengthy recovery that my be the last word on his well-documented quest to suit up for England in South Africa in June.

And some are already placing Beckham’s club-career in jeopardy as well. Should this mark the end of one of the most talked-about careers in all of professional sports, the ramifications could be far reaching; everything from AC Milan’s current title chase to Capello’s Jo’Berg-bound roster to the Galaxy’s sponsorship deal’s could feel the effects of life without Beckham.

We’ll know more on Monday but until then and after then the questions with come fast and frequent from fans, pundits, players and administrators. With the 2010 Serie A season most-likely over for him, will Beckham return to LA sooner rather than later? Will the Galaxy seek compensation from AC Milan for damaging one of their prize players? Will this influence the league’s future loan decisions? And if there is a chance that Beckham’s time on the field is over, does LA look for another big name to plaster all over their promotional materials? These questions and more will be asked in the next few days. But the answers, they may take a bit a longer.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

Still recovering from the knee injury he sustained in an emotionally charged match against Costa Rica last October, Oguchi Onyewu reacquainted himself with his fellow U.S. national team players and the coaching staff at yesterday’s training session at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA. According to U.S. Soccer, “Onyewu trained for about 30 minutes, participating in the warm-up, a 5 versus 2 game and a possession game before stepping out for individual rehabilitation work.”

This was the AC Milan defender’s first group training since last fall and marks the next phase in his recovery, which will continue in Italy following his departure from California. In the interview above, Gooch talks to USSoccer.com about the challenges of coming back from an injury and rehabbing in Delaware with Charlie Davies. But all that aside it’s just nice to see the big man running around again.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

With the SuperDraft over I spent my final morning in Philadelphia taking in the exhibit hall at the NSCAA Convention. Slotted in amongst the myriad of booths offering an endless array of mobile goals, fake grass, and assorted accessories designed for the lonely futbol fan to play his/her favorite game alone (SoccerWave anyone?) was the booth for Futbolr Clothing. If you happen to be at the convention and are wondering where they are just listen for bassed-out reggae music; when you’ve found it’s source, you’ve found the Futblor booth.

One of the company’s principal’s is a light-eyed Jamaican from Brooklyn named Maubricio and when I showed up at his little corner of the cavernous hall he hipped me to the secret guest they had lined up to make an appearance at the Futbolr booth: U.S. and AC Milan defender Oguchi Onyewu. Sensing that I smelled blood in the water, Maubrico asked if I’d like to go with him to the hotel where he was meeting up with Gooch before the appearance. My answer was something to the effect of “Does it get dark at night?”.

When we arrived at the hotel Gooch was already in the lobby waiting for us. Looking rested and in rude health, the big man was up for answering the question I (and many USMNT supporters) have been dying to know: how’s the knee? After a quick jaunt up the stairs to one of the hotel’s open sitting areas I got the answer.