20Nov/120
New York Red Bulls Should Miss Having Bruce Arena in Charge
Bruce Arena is referred to by many soccer fans and pundits as the greatest American coach ever. An article on Grantland by Andrew Lewellen is yet another voice affirming that. He writes about how Arena has taken on the job of coach of the Los Angeles Galaxy, turning around a team neck deep in pressure, tension and turmoil. Lewellen also noted Arena’s success in developing successful teams at the University of Virginia, D.C. United and the United State’s men’s national team. One high profile job (and failure) conveniently left out was his year and a half stint with the New York Red Bulls. Arena was hired by the franchise after the 2006 FIFA World Cup and resigned two days after their 2007 season ended. The failing aspect of the job was not as much Arena’s fault, however, as it was the failure for the Red Bulls organization to be patient, highlighting why in 17 seasons there have been 13 head coaches (including current interim Mike Petke) and a revolving door of players but zero trophies to brag about. In the two years Arena was the head coach of the Red Bulls, he compiled a record of 18-19-11. It was the ...20Nov/120
MLS Cup: 6 Key Battles to Watch as the LA Galaxy Take on the Houston Dynamo
With the conference finals now over, the MLS Cup is set. On December 1, the Houston Dynamo will travel to Los Angeles to take on the Galaxy at the Home Depot Center, with kickoff slated for 1:30 PST. The game will be a rematch of the 2011 MLS Cup, which the Galaxy won 1-0. Here are six key battles to watch in the game.Begin Slideshow20Nov/120
David Beckham Leaves LA Galaxy: 7 Clubs That He Could Play for Next
After five years, the Beckham experiment is done in Los Angeles.The MLS' most recognizable face announced Monday that he would be leaving the L.A. Galaxy after the team's MLS Cup rematch with the Houston Dynamo December 1.The 37-year-old Beckham also implied that he would be taking his talents out of the United States as he suggested that his relationship with the MLS would eventually continue through ownership.So one obvious question arises from this announcement: Where will Beckham end up after he cuts ties with the Galaxy?Here are seven clubs the former England captain could find himself playing for in the near future.Begin Slideshow20Nov/120
David Beckham’s Legacy with LA Galaxy More Complex Than Success on Pitch
Introspection is only natural in situations like this. With or without David Beckham involved, an end to any era always prompts the kind of Hornby-esque, what-does-it-all-mean soul-searching that most of us, as American soccer fans, are already doing. That Beckham serves as the main actor in our drama only makes it inevitable.Even so, in the aftermath of the Beckham Bombshell, it's important not to take all of this too far.The situation is this: Beckham is leaving the Los Angeles Galaxy. The MLS Cup final on Dec. 1 will be his final match with the club.This is undeniably a big deal. And yet, as he leaves the Galaxy, possibly for far-away shores, it would be a mistake to rush into making grand pronouncements about Beckham's legacy and effect on the sport in America.Beckham is, after all, only a man, and the process is still running. Global fame and all, Beckham is not and never was the sport's savior in America (assuming such a singular figure will ever exist). Major League Soccer will go on, and the game will continue to grow in the United States.Before and after Beckham, soccer was and is still the world's most popular sport. His arrival has ...20Nov/120
David Beckham Leaving LA Galaxy: Why Becks Couldn’t Change the MLS
Six years ago, David Beckham arrived in the United States to a mighty fanfare. At 31 years of age and still one of the sport's biggest names, the arrival of Beckham looked as if it could be the catalyst that propelled Major League Soccer into a category befitting its name.But now, as Beckham announces his intention to leave the Los Angeles Galaxy—his home during his entire American tenure—has the position of soccer in the US really moved on?In 2007, I wrote an article about Juan Pablo Angel, the former Aston Villa striker who had since moved to the New York Red Bulls. Angel had arrived in the Big Apple under the Designated Player Rule, the very rule that allowed the Galaxy to break their budget cap and sign Beckham. Both of the players were 31 and neither of them past their prime. These were the types of players, I argued, that would prevent the MLS from going the way of the North American Soccer League in the 70s and 80s.Big-name foreign players have arrived in the years since—Thierry Henry, Alessandro Nesta and, most recently, Marco Di Vaio to name but three—but none of them have done so during the peak of their careers.When Beckham left Real Madrid in 2007, ...20Nov/120
David Beckham: Is He MLS’s Most Important Player Ever?
Since David Beckham’s move to the U.S. in 2007, Major League Soccer has gained a lot of credibility, both at home and abroad. Some of this is undoubtedly down to the former England captain, but does that make him the most important player MLS has ever seen? Beckham’s announcement that the MLS Cup Final on December 1 will be his last for LA Galaxy was greeted with surprise. Not as much surprise as when he first announced he would be playing in LA, however. Leaving Real Madrid at the age of 31 in favour of playing for the Galaxy was greeted with something just short of derision in his home country. Madrid had offered to extend his contract and he was popular with the supporters—despite the team’s failure to win any trophies during his time at the club—but Beckham had fallen out of favour with then-manager Fabio Capello. Steve McClaren, too, had neglected to include him in his England squad. Even so, playing football (soccer) in America wasn’t something that anyone expected or respected. A precedent was set in the 1970s when Pele, George Best and Johan Cruyff played in the North American Soccer League, but the common consensus in England was that it ...20Nov/120
David Beckham: See All of His Goals with Los Angeles Galaxy in One Place (Video)
David Beckham. Check.All his goals in one convenient video. Check."Bitter Sweet Symphony" by The Verve. Oh yeah.It's David Beckham Day here at Set Piece, and to mark the occasion, we're bringing you this video of each and every one of Beckham's goals with the Los Angeles Galaxy (excluding friendlies) in one place.Beckham and the Galaxy announced Monday that next month's MLS Cup final will be his last match with the club. For American soccer fans and Galaxy supporters, it brings to a close a memorable run that began in 2007 and saw the sport make real gains in the country.No surprise, then, that for MLS fans, Beckham's announcement felt bittersweet. Thus the backing musical track to the video above.So, without further delay, take a look at the clip above and appreciate the goals Beckham has scored for the Galaxy. The clip is our Set Piece Video of the Day for this Tuesday. Enjoy.According to MLSSoccer.com, Beckham has scored five match winners in his 18 career MLS goals. His best scoring season has been the current campaign, in which Beckham has scored seven times.The Home Depot Center, which is the Galaxy's home stadium, has witnessed 10 of Beckham's 18 MLS goals. ...20Nov/120
MLS Playoffs 2012 Rankings: Ranking the Top 10 Players in MLS Playoffs so Far
The 2012 MLS Cup is less than two weeks away, bringing a conclusion to what has been an enthralling three weeks of soccer. With 11 days to preview, predict and prognosticate a potential outcome, let's look back at the top 10 players in the 2012 MLS playoffs so far. Disclaimer: In order to avoid a list filled with nothing but representatives from the Houston Dynamo and LA Galaxy, I have limited each conference champion to three players. No matter how deserving other members of the Galaxy and Dynamo may be, it is unfair to exclude some of the memorable performances from other teams.Begin Slideshow20Nov/120
Predicting the Next Wave of Washed Up Stars to Join MLS
It's hard for professional athletes to admit their best days are behind them. In so many professional sports, there aren't a lot of places soon-to-be former household names can turn to if they still believe they have the right stuff.In soccer, there's America, where the streets are paved in gold. Look at David Beckham. He left Real Madrid at 32 for the Los Angeles Galaxy, and made good on a $250 million deal.Beckham wasn't the first, but he was the biggest. A handful of former stars followed him including Thierry Henry, Rafa Marquez and Robbie Keane, among others. "Washed up" might sound harsh, but most of the aforementioned players and those in the next few slides are just that. They're still quality footballers, but no longer at the height of their game. They're shells of their former selves, and while they may not have a lot more to offer in Europe, they can help an entire nation learn to love the beautiful game. Begin Slideshow20Nov/120