MLS Insider Blog

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

Remember when the Western Conference title, the Supporters Shield and MLS Cup all seemed fated to land in the hands of the LA Galaxy? My how things have changed in 6 weeks. With Edson Buddle no longer scoring at-will and a spate of losses, draws and narrow wins, Bruce’s boys no longer seem to be the SoCal version of “The Invincibles.” Like Stella, the need to get their groove back.

Some say that the return of David Beckham might be exactly what they need. I’m sure he’ll be a welcome addition but LA was getting along fine without him. Plus integrating him into the squad is going to take some time…something that there isn’t much of at this point in the season. He’ll help but to put it all on him would be too much to ask (haven’t we learned that yet?).

What LA need more than any one player is swagger. For most of the season they had it by the truckload but at some point they were carjacked by FC Dallas and Real Salt Lake. Can they get it back? Undoubtedly. The late draw in Chicago is an excellent starting point. Couple that with Beckham’s return and a couple of nice wins to end the year –particularly over rival Chivas USA and current high-flyers Columbus, FC Dallas and Red Bull New York– and they’ve got enough confidence builders to strut their way through the post-season. Or at least to the post-season; no one, not even LA, are getting through RSL or FC Dallas right now without a fight.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

When your journey to the top of a building involves switching to a second elevator at the 80th floor to continue your ascent, it is no longer a building; it is a skyscraper in the truest sense of the word. The iconic Empire State Building is the grand dame of skyscrapers and this morning it played host to a photo opportunity with members of the U.S. Men’s National Team, in town for tomorrow night’s friendly against Brazil across the Hudson River at New Jersey’s Giants Stadium.

As with any group of tourists, there are always one or two of them with a fear of heights and this group was no exception. LA Galaxy star Edson Buddle stated with no hesitation that high places “make his toes curl up” and tomorrow night’s potential strike partner Robbie Findley shared his trepidation. “It’s a little high for me but it’s definitely a cool view of the city,” said Findley, “the view from the Rockies are alright but this definitely takes it.”

Luckily for the U.S. though he (and Buddle) are a bit more adept at dealing with keepers and defenders than high places. “I can’t fear any player otherwise I can’t do my job. I just try and go out there and do my thing every game, doesn’t matter who I’m playing against.”

As well as providing an unmatched view of New York City, it was a unique vantage point from which to observe the players for the first time since their white-knuckle run through the World Cup. The 10 or so players present were a microcosm of the roster called up by coach Bob Bradley to face Brazil: a mix of hardened veterans -Tim Howard, Carlos Bocanegra, Steve Cherundolo- and youngsters with a fare share of USMNT experience under their belt -Sacha Kljestan, Benny Feilhaber, Maurice Edu- that says that this friendly is all about providing the fans with a post-World Cup ticker-tape parade in the form of a match. But with next summer’s Gold Cup final in Pasadena already glimmering in the distance you can bet on a few changes, ripples in the player pool, to come soon enough…just not tomorrow night.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

Bob Bradley has returned to the States and, like Landon Donovan, is making the PR rounds in New York. Earlier today he made an appearance at MLS HQ and sat down with MLSsoccer.com’s Greg Lalas to talk everything World Cup.

Of particular interest is the topic of Edson Buddle. How is it that the leading scorer in MLS barely got a sniff of the pitch? “Edson clearly has had a great season. His ability to get around the goal in MLS has paid off, ” says Bradley. “But when the games went a little bit faster we felt that his role was going to be more as a reserve.”

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

A pair of MLS matches on the docket tonight with Chicago hosting Colorado and undefeated (unstoppable?) LA visiting Real Salt Lake. Jason & Simon seem to think that the key to the latter match will be whether or not LA scores first, something they have no problem doing even without the services of Edson Buddle & Landon Donovan. There is also the prerequisite bit of World Cup injury talk: is Bob Bradley really considering starting Onyewu against England or is he just being cagey?

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

Today, Jason Saghini & Simon Borg discuss the action from this past weekend and the current youth movement in MLS. Danny Mwanga, Brek Shea, Andy Najar & Tristan Bowen all impressed this week and Simon wonders if Bowen has impressed enough this year to help push Edson Buddle out the door at LA.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

Here it is, Bob Bradley’s 23-man roster for the U.S. Mens National Team. I know you have something to say about it so let the pontificating begin.

USA’s 23-man Provisional World Cup Roster

Goalkeepers- Tim Howard, Marcus Hahnemann, Brad Guzan

Defenders- Carlos Bocanegra, Oguchi Onyewu, Steve Cherundolo, Jonathan Spector, Jay DeMerit, Clarence Goodson, Jonathan Bornstein

Midfielders- Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Stuart Holden, Ricardo Clark, Maurice Edu, Benny Feilhaber, Jose Francisco Torres,  DaMarcus Beasley

Forwards- Jozy Altidore, Robbie Findley, Edson Buddle, Herculez Gomez

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

If selected for the 23-man roster, Edson Buddle may be the man to bring a scoring touch to the USMNT’s strike force but he also brings with him a great bit of chemistry with Galaxy teammate Landon Donovan. Can the two connect for Bob Bradley as well as they do for Bruce Arena?

BY SIMON BORG

After the opening of camp on Monday and the Landon Donovan therapy session on Tuesday, there was very little newsworthy notes coming out of U.S. camp in Princeton on Wednesday. Overall, except for the rain on Tuesday, things have gone according to plan for USA manager Bob Bradley who said “so far, so good.”

Here’s where things stand: Bradley seems to have a strong feeling of who his 23 are and will use the match in Hartford to confirm those thoughts. The three injured players who will likely be in the final squad are progressing well (Eddie Johnson, Carlos Bocanegra and Jay DeMerit). Defender Chad Marshall is unlikely to make it to South Africa after a hamstring injury kept him out of the third day of team practice. Also, reading into Bradley’s comments on Wednesday, it’s tough to see DaMarcus Beasley figuring into his plans.

Lastly, forward Edson Buddle says the only forward he has not been paired up with thus far during camp is Herculez Gomez, which likely means that the two are in direct competition for a spot on the 23.

LIKELY NOT TO MAKE FINAL 23: Chad Marshall, DaMarcus Beasley, Alejandro Bedoya, Robbie Findley, Robbie Rogers, Sacha Kljestan, Herculez Gomez OR Edson Buddle

BY JONAH FREEDMAN

In his very limited public statements lately, David Beckham has been saying all the right things about his Galaxy teammates, Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle, heading off to US National Team camp. And he should – as a player with a legendary work ethic, he knows more than anyone how hard LA’s star duo has worked over the past few months. But did he foresee Buddle’s spectacular surge?

I went back and listened to a recording I made after Buddle bagged a hat trick to lead LA to a 3-0 win over San Jose back in 2008, and it sure seemed like Beckham knew the Galaxy’s leading scorer had potential to end up back in a US kit.

“Edson is an individual that’s getting better at the game and he’s a player who also works hard at it,” the English superstar said. “So he’s going to get better. … He’s proved it in training day in and day out because he works at things. He works at scoring goals and getting in positions and he listens. That’s the biggest thing with young players that play in the MLS: the listening and learning. And Edson’s like that. He’s proved tonight that he’s a handful. He’s a big lad and he’s strong and he can cause many problems without scoring goals. So if he carries on scoring like he’s scoring, it’ll be great for him.”

BY SIMON BORG

A quick status update on who’s in and who’s out for today’s sessions:

Edson Buddle, Landon Donovan, Jose Francisco Torres, Benny Feilhaber and Clarence Goodson participated in training for the first time today (Tuesday).

Donovan and Buddle completed their physicals on Monday. Feilhaber and Goodson arrived from overseas on Monday.

Brian Ching and Eddie Johnson were completing their physicals today and are not at training.

An update is forthcoming from Michael Kammarman on Carlos Bocanegra and Tim Howard, who participated in a portion of Tuesday training.