Few Surprises, A Little Drama In US World Cup Provisional Roster
by Brad Paton (Analysis | US Soccer Review - May 13)
In the Made–for–TV movie version of “The Charlie Davies Story” that’s surely in pre–production on the ABC networks as we speak, May 11, 2010, will be marked as the real beginning of Davies’ return to scaling the soccer heights that he hinted at being capable of last summer in South Africa, a journey sure to end in World Cup glory in Brazil (assuming they figure out how to build a few stadia down there between now and then). more details | go to article

Major League Soccer And The "Last Chance Saloon"
by Brad Paton (Commentary | US Soccer Review - February 24)
Major League Soccer tries to deny accusations that it is a combination developmental league/retirement home for aging veterans without viable options elsewhere, but the recent kerfuffle over the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the MLS Players’ Union as well as US Men’s National Team Coach Bob Bradley’s likely roster choices for tickets to South Africa this summer tell a different story. more details | go to article

US Men’s National Team 2009 Highs
by Brad Paton (Commentary | US Soccer Review - December 14)
On Friday I gave the low–lights of the US Men’s National Soccer Team’s experiences in 2009, so in an effort to end the year on a better note than their 3–1 loss to Denmark, here is a look back at the moments that made me think dreamily of what happy surprises could await the US in the first African–hosted World Cup. more details | go to article

UVa Soccer Wins NCAA Championship!
by Brad Paton (Commentary | C-Ville Weekly (Charlottesville, VA) - December 13)
On a rain-drenched WakeMed Soccer Park field in Cary, North Carolina, the University of Virginia Cavalier men's soccer team out-lasted the University of Akron Zips in penalty kicks, while adding a whole host of teasers to the college soccer world. more details | go to article

US Men’s National Team 2009 Lows
by Brad Paton (Commentary | US Soccer Review - December 11)
2009 was a rather schizophrenic year for the US Men’s National Soccer Team. I’ll list the highs tomorrow, but below are the moments from this year that made me despair the most for what is to await in South Africa next summer. more details | go to article

The Spirit Of 1776
by Brad Paton (Blog Entry | US Soccer Review - December 8)
With 7 months before the beginning of Anglo–American hostilities at the Battle of Rustenburg, I’m hoping Coach Bob Bradley borrows a page from General George Washington’s successful strategy for winning the Revolutionary War: don’t over–commit in any part of the battlefield, strategically conceding the meaningless possession game, and wait to strike and take advantage when you can. If he does, maybe another 6-5 victory awaits. more details | go to article

Which Forward Will Be Left Off The Final US Gold Cup Roster, If Any?
by Brad Paton (Commentary | Twiigs - June 21)
The US Mens National Team named a preliminary roster for the 2009 Gold Cup that will have to be trimmed down to 23 players for final submission. The preliminary roster featured 4 Goalkeepers, 11 Defenders, 9 Midfielders, and 5 Forwards, which will most likely be trimmed down to 3 GK + 8 DF + 8/7 MF + 4/5 F for the final 23 if history is any guide. more details | go to article

Which Midfielders Will Be Left Off The Final US Gold Cup Roster (1 Or 2 Players)?
by Brad Paton (Commentary | Twiigs - June 21)
The US Mens National Team named a preliminary roster for the 2009 Gold Cup that will have to be trimmed down to 23 players for final submission. The preliminary roster featured 4 Goalkeepers, 11 Defenders, 9 Midfielders, and 5 Forwards, which will most likely be trimmed down to 3 GK + 8 DF + 8/7 MF + 4/5 F for the final 23 if history is any guide. more details | go to article

Which Defenders Will Be Left Off The Final US Gold Cup Roster (3 Players)?
by Brad Paton (Commentary | Twiigs - June 21)
The US Mens National Team named a preliminary roster for the 2009 Gold Cup that will have to be trimmed down to 23 players for final submission. The preliminary roster featured 4 Goalkeepers, 11 Defenders, 9 Midfielders, and 5 Forwards, which will most likely be trimmed down to 3 GK + 8 DF + 8/7 MF + 4/5 F for the final 23 if history is any guide. more details | go to article

Which Goalkeeper Will Be Left Off The Final US Gold Cup Roster?
by Brad Paton (Commentary | Twiigs - June 21)
The US Mens National Team named a preliminary roster for the 2009 Gold Cup that will have to be trimmed down to 23 players for final submission. The preliminary roster featured 4 Goalkeepers, 11 Defenders, 9 Midfielders, and 5 Forwards, which will most likely be trimmed down to 3 GK + 8 DF + 8/7 MF + 4/5 F for the final 23 if history is any guide. more details | go to article

All Roads Start In Columbus, Ohio
by Brad Paton (Preview | US Soccer Review - February 10)
It’s hard being a fan of the US national soccer teams while having to work a 9–to–5 job. It means that in the days leading up to big games, like tomorrow’s Super–Duper–Clásico vs. Los Tricolores of Mexico, you have to spend large amounts of time either surreptitiously scanning for tidbits of news to satisfy a voracious appetite for anything to encourage your hopes, or worse, make you reach for your stomach/nerve–soother of choice, often without enough time left over to keep it all in perspective. more details | go to article

US Men's National Soccer Team February 11, 2009 World Cup Qualifier vs. Mexico Roster Map
by Brad Paton (Preview | US Soccer Review - February 9)
Google Maps listing showing the hometowns of the US Men's National Team Roster for the February 11, 2009, World Cup Qualifier vs. Mexico in Columbus, Ohio. more details | go to article

US Men’s National Team Shifts Job From Qualification To Building Depth
by Brad Paton (Preview | US Soccer Review - October 13)
With passage secured to the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, the U.S. must now turn its efforts towards building as much roster depth as possible to make it to South Africa in 2010, and hopefully do better there than they did in Germany 2006. more details | go to article

Cuba’s Leones De Caribe Pay A Visit To The Yanquí Capital City
by Brad Paton (Preview | US Soccer Review - October 10)
Hopefully the US men will be popping the corks on a case of mini bottles of Champagne around 9 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time after a comfortable victory at R.F.K. stadium here in Washington, D.C., guaranteeing them a spot in the final round of CONCACAF qualifying for World Cup 2010 in South Africa. But as in most competitive sports, anything can happen in 90+ minutes on the field so we’ll have to wait and see for sure. more details | go to article

US Men’s National Team vs. Trinidad
by Brad Paton (Blog Entry | US Soccer Review - September 9)
It’s highly unlikely that come 9:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time in Chicago the US men will be anything but 1 to 3 points closer to clinching their spot in the CONCACAF final round of qualifying for South Africa 2010. more details | go to article