Yesterday was kind of nuts on the soccer news front. Let's get right to the main reason why:
Peter Nowak vs. The Philadelphia Union | The Brotherly Game
Find a good place to sit and take this one in. Yesterday, Philly.com's Jonathan Tannenwald got his hands on the documentation behind Nowak's wrongful termination lawsuit against the Union, and was tweeting out everything of note that he found. TBG summed it up and put Tannenwald's tweets together in Storify. This is a must-read, especially as there are plenty of things involving Nowak's tenure as D.C. United's head coach.
D.C. United home opener pushed back 1 day | Soccer Insider
I've got to say, I'm very surprised that ESPN2 would grab United's home opener against the Colorado Rapids for national TV coverage. United's roster and style of play don't exactly endear them to neutral viewers, and no team in MLS is even close to as moribund as the Rapids. In any case, it's a home game so if you're in the area you should be there.
Tuesday kickaround | Soccer Insider
A look at this year's likely Generation Adidas class (including Georgetown's Josh Yaro) and some news about Americans abroad.
Sounders still trying to close deal on Jordan Morris | Sounder at Heart
Our friends in Seattle have a Storystream going if you're trying to keep track of what's going on with Jordan Morris. Basically, he is going to be a professional player in 2016, but it's maybe not guaranteed that he suits up for the Sounders.
Is Damien Perquis looking to return to Europe? | Toronto Sun
Well, it sure sounds like he is. I guess TFC will have to find some other goon to kick star players for 90 minutes.
New Homegrown signing Aaron Guillen relishing his return to FC Dallas | FCDallas.com
FC Dallas signing a Homegrown player? Well I never.
USL Takes Control of the Rhinos after Rob Clark is Ousted as Owner | The Bent Musket
The defending USL champion Rochester Rhinos are now being run by the USL after the league exercised their right to give owner Rob Clark the boot.
U.S. veterans express concern, leading to January camp changes | SI.com
Grant Wahl did some digging and found out why the January camp was changed. Oddly enough, there is some reason to suspect that the players who raised the issues that resulted in said changes are being left out of the squad. Because that's how you manage a team.
Some MLS players who will get an invite are mentioned here. Bill Hamid was not brought up, but worry not:
Getting word D.C. United's Bill Hamid has been invited to #USMNT winter camp, which begins Sunday in Carson
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) January 6, 2016
Naturally I anticipate Jurgen Klinsmann - the man who can't figure out that William Yarbrough would be a below-average MLS starter at best - will start Luis Robles, and probably also declare him the starter through the 2018 World Cup.
Can the FBI help save Brazilian soccer? | Vice Sports
This is a pretty fascinating piece on how Brazilian players and Brazilian society at large is hopeful over changes within Brazil's soccer federation thanks in part to the broad reach of the FBI's investigation of corruption in world soccer.