[BBC Sport] Neill Collins: Roy Keane, Joe Cole & managing in Florida

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/ejyw5z/bbc_sport_neill_collins_roy_keane_joe_cole/

[BBC Sport] Neill Collins: Roy Keane, Joe Cole & managing in Florida

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/amp/football/50966917

Neill Collins: Roy Keane, Joe Cole & managing in Florida

Now 36, he is in charge of the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the second tier of North American football, a role he assumed in the blink of an eye with a glowing endorsement from Joe Cole.

'It was quite strange to leave Joe Cole out'

Since he was a boy, Collins had visited Florida with his parents, first to their holiday home, then as he grew older and started a family, a second house of his own. He would watch the Rowdies, formed 11 years ago, on his trips over, and jumped at the chance to sign for the club in the USL Championship.

Before long, he was captain, Cole was his team-mate and confidant. Then the manager got sacked and within a week, he was offered the job in May 2018.

"Joe Cole put my name forward to be manager," Collins says. "It was quite strange to go from playing beside Joe to then coaching him and leaving him out at times but there's a great respect for each other and we're still very good friends.

"He's won Premier League titles, played in Champions League finals, won 50-odd caps for England, but he was so humble. He did a great job of looking after the lads and trying to act as a leader without shoving it in anyone's face."

Image copyright GETTY IMAGES Joe Cole played under Collins at Tampa Bay Rowdies before taking an academy coaching role at Chelsea

Image caption Joe Cole played under Collins at Tampa Bay Rowdies before taking an academy coaching role at Chelsea

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/ej2wlb/rowdies_hire_kevin_foley_as_assistant_coach/

Rowdies Hire Kevin Foley as Assistant Coach (formerly Wolves academy); Martin Paterson and Cheyne Roberts departures

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news_article/show/1074891

ROWDIES HIRE KEVIN FOLEY AS ASSISTANT COACH

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/eicx7h/looks_like_the_rowdies_u23_are_making_a_return_to/

Looks like the Rowdies U23 are making a return to USL League Two

(Follow link for full article.)

https://twitter.com/unusedsubspod/status/1211680357306847233?s=21

The ⭐ Unused ⭐ Substitutes ⚽ Show 🎙️
@UnusedSubsPod
Another
@USLLeagueTwo
 Rowdies U23 sighting...
11:08 AM · Dec 30, 2019·Twitter for Android

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.revolutionsoccer.net/schedule

2020 SCHEDULE

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/man-citys-david-silva-secures-21217081

Man City’s David Silva secures ‘verbal agreement’ with David Beckham’s Inter Miami

David Silva is leaving Manchester City when his contract expires in the summer and David Beckham's Inter Miami outfit are in talks to bring him to the MLS

(Follow link for full article.)

https://internetshots.com/2020/01/04/david-beckham-set-to-nominate-tony-pulis-son-as-assistant-supervisor-at-inter-miami/

David Beckham set to nominate Tony Pulis’ son as assistant supervisor at Inter Miami

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/paper-talk-man-utd-maddison-move/175835

Sunday's Paper Talk: The latest football transfer news and gossip including Maddison, Rodriguez and Eriksen

Pedro may have to give up on a return to Barcelona from Chelsea as the winger looks set to move to David Beckham's Inter Miami.

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.frontrowsoccer.com/2020/01/05/remembering-the-nasl-defunct-leagues-draft-certainly-had-its-moments/

REMEMBERING THE NASL: Defunct league’s draft certainly had its moments

(Follow link for full article.)

https://fox2now.com/2020/01/04/us-mens-soccer-team-cancels-plan-to-train-in-qatar/

US men’s soccer team cancels plan to train in Qatar

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.hometownstations.com/sports/nationalsports/update-on-the-latest-sports/article_fb14b23a-2967-58bb-9886-dab87613a32c.html

Update on the latest sports

SOCCER-US CANCELS QATAR CAMP

US men's soccer team cancels plan to train in Qatar

CHICAGO (AP) — The U.S. men’s soccer team has canceled its plan to train in Doha, Qatar, from Jan. 5-25 “due to the developing situation in the region.”

The U.S. Soccer Federation announced the decision Friday, a day after a U.S. military air strike killed a top Iranian military commander.

The Americans will move training to a site in the United States that has not yet been determined. They will be use a roster of players mostly from Major League Soccer ahead of an exhibition against Costa Rica on Feb. 1 in Carson, California.

The USSF said it hopes to train in the future at Qatar, host of the 2022 World Cup.

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.times-news.com/sports/local_sports/saturday-s-sports-roundup/article_2beb0fdc-f302-5f78-92f8-64767bf5963e.html

Saturday's Sports Roundup

U.S. men’s team won’t train in Qatar

CHICAGO (AP) — The U.S. men’s soccer team has canceled its plan to train in Doha, Qatar, from Jan. 5-25 “due to the developing situation in the region.”

The U.S. Soccer Federation announced the decision Friday, a day after a U.S. military air strike killed a top Iranian military commander.

The Americans will move training to a site in the United States that has not yet been determined. They will be use a roster of players mostly from Major League Soccer ahead of an exhibition against Costa Rica on Feb. 1 at Carson, California.

The USSF said it hopes to train in the future at Qatar, host of the 2022 World Cup.

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/jan/03/usmnt-soccer-camp-qatar-canceled-iran

USA men's soccer team cancel Qatar camp amid Middle East tensions

USSF cancel January camp due to ‘developing situation’ in area

USMNT are set to prepare for Feburary friendly with Costa Rica

Federation says it hopes to return to Qatar to train in the future

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/article/SOCCER-Former-SIUE-All-America-Trittschuh-is-14949448.php

SOCCER: Former SIUE All-America Trittschuh is STLFC’s new coach

“I wish (MLS) had gotten started a little earlier,” Trittschuh said. “I would have had more years.”

Not that the years prior were dull.

Beginning in 1987, Trittschuh played for:

The St. Louis Steamers, Busch Soccer Club Seniors, Tampa Bay Rowdies, Sparta Prague in Czechoslovakia, the Rowdies again, SVV Dordrecht in Holland, Tampa Bay again, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, St. Louis Ambush, the Montreal Impact, the Tampa Bay Terror and finally the Colorado Rapids and Tampa Bay of MLS.

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.foxsports.com.my/football/major-league-soccer/134111/reports-david-beckham-set-to-appoint-son-of-former-premier-league-manager-as-inter-miami-head-coach/

Reports: David Beckham set to appoint son of former Premier League manager as Inter Miami assistant coach

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/01/04/these-are-international-leagues-mls-gms-are-mining-talent-winter

These are the international leagues MLS GMs are mining talent from this winter

(Follow link for full article.)

https://hoodline.com/2020/01/tampa-s-5-top-spots-for-low-priced-barbecue

Tampa's 5 top spots for low-priced barbecue

BJ's Alabama BBQ | Sarge's Smokehouse Bbq | Big John's Alabama Bar-B-Q | Ice Cream's Delicious Turkey Legs & BBQ | Georgia Boy Bbq

Need more barbecue in your life?

Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the best affordable barbecue sources in Tampa, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of where to venture when cravings strike.

1. BJ's Alabama BBQ

Topping the list is BJ's Alabama BBQ. Located at 3423 S. Dale Mabry Highway in Virginia Park, the spot to score barbecue and more is the highest-rated inexpensive barbecue spot in Tampa, boasting 4.5 stars out of 125 reviews on Yelp.

Curious to know more about the business? Owner April Moreno explains "my father's restaurant, Big John's Alabama BBQ, inspired me to continue the family tradition," per the bio section of the business's Yelp profile. This spot offers barbecue chicken and rib, pulled pork and smoked sausage. Try the two-meat platter with your choice of meats and sides like collard greens and potato salad plus white bread.

2. Sarge's Smokehouse Bbq

Next up is North Hyde Park's Sarge's Smokehouse Bbq, situated at 1500 W. Cass St. With 4.5 stars out of 50 reviews on Yelp, the food truck and smokehouse, which offers barbecue and more, has proven to be a local favorite for those looking for a budget-friendly option.

Brandie M, who reviewed Sarge's Smokehouse Bbq on Nov. 19, noted, "The barbecue here tends to lean towards the sweet versus the savory. It's all delicious! The baked beans are rather unique with chunks of meat, a variety of beans and pineapple. Trust me, it really works. I've tried the pork, chicken and brisket."

3. Big John's Alabama Bar-B-Q

Northeast's Big John's Alabama Bar-B-Q, located at 5707 N. 40th St., is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the cheap spot to score barbecue and more four stars out of 92 reviews.

Yelper Bob N. wrote, "There is no better place for barbecue in Tampa, and I have tried a lot. The open-pit grill, paired with Big John's signature sauce, is guaranteed to leave your hands finger-licking delicious."

Try the sweet potato pie and pound cake for dessert.

4. Ice Cream's Delicious Turkey Legs & BBQ

Ice Cream's Delicious Turkey Legs & BBQ, a food truck that offers barbecue and more in East Tampa, is another much-loved, affordable go-to, with 4.5 stars out of 14 Yelp reviews. Head over to 5112 N. 22nd St. to see for yourself.

Yelper Brett N. wrote, "I finally tried the turkey legs. I love the ribs so much here that it was tough to stray from them. But I was in the mood for a turkey leg, so I went for it! This truck is one of the best kept secrets in Tampa Bay."

5. Georgia Boy Bbq

Over in Ybor City, check out Georgia Boy Bbq, which has earned four stars out of 17 reviews on Yelp. Dig in at the food truck, which offers barbecue and more, by heading over to 898 E. Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd.

Yelper Janet Z., who reviewed Georgia Boy Bbq on Nov. 11 wrote, "Best barbecue I have had a in a long time! Great smoky flavor, tart mustard sauce."

Try the ribs and chicken smothered with tangy barbecue sauce with baked beans and mac and cheese on the side.

This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.businessobserverfl.com/article/tampa-bay-rays-montreal-future-ron-christaldi

Baseball franchise's cloudy future in region grows darker

As 2020 arrives, the Tampa Bay Rays' tenure in St. Petersburg is in peril. Several business community leaders hope to rally the team to stay in town — full time.

Eight years … 96 months … 417 weeks … 2,920 days … two presidential terms — any way you slice it, eight years seems like a long time.

But in the context of St. Petersburg’s relationship with the Tampa Bay Rays and how long it would take to secure a new stadium for the Major League Baseball team, eight years has begun to look like eight too few.

10 for 20

Issue: Tampa Bay Rays stadium post-Tropicana Field.

Executive: Ron Christaldi

Why he matters: Christaldi is a leader of Tampa Bay Rays 2020, a group of community and business leaders who want to keep Major League Baseball in the Tampa Bay region for generations to come.

The Rays’ Tropicana Field lease expires in 2027 — after which the team would be free to decamp to baseball-hungry Portland; Las Vegas; Raleigh, N.C.; or north of the border in Montreal. Montreal has already been courting the team as part of a radical plan that would see the Rays become a part-time Tampa Bay resident, playing the first half of the MLB season in Florida before heading north for the summer.

Rays majority owner Stu Sternberg has aggressively pushed the split-season plan as the only way to save Major League Baseball in the Tampa Bay region, calling for new, open-air stadiums to be built in both cities. He seeks to put the plan into action in time for the 2024 or 2025 season.

“I like Montreal — it’s a great city,” says Tampa attorney Ron Christaldi, a leading advocate for moving the Rays to Tampa. “But I don’t see a whole lot of connectivity between Montreal and Tampa. I haven't seen any fiscal analysis, so I don't know really whether it's plausible or not. But it doesn't seem to me to be the best choice.”

Christaldi, a partner at Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick LLP, is one of the leaders of Tampa Bay Rays 2020, a group of professionals who want to galvanize support for keeping the team in the Tampa Bay region, full time, for generations to come. The group backed a plan to build a domed stadium in Ybor City that would cost $892 million. But the deal collapsed in December 2018, days before the closure of the team’s three-year window granted by the St. Petersburg City Council and Mayor Rick Kriseman to search for a new home.

“I think 2020 is the year that the Rays’ future gets charted,” Christaldi says. “There’s been a long pause, but now everybody needs to roll up their sleeves, figuratively break bread again and say, ‘OK, we’ve got this.’”

“I like Montreal — it’s a great city. But I don’t see a whole lot of connectivity between Montreal and Tampa.” Ron Christaldi, a Tampa attorney and leader of Tampa Bay Rays 2020

However, Kriseman announced in early December that St. Petersburg would not allow the Rays to pursue the split-season plan prior to 2027. That provoked Sternberg: He says the team believes in the Montreal arrangement and will prepare to execute it in 2028. Rays officials have declined to comment publicly on the stadium situation, save for Sternberg's comments on the Montreal plan.

“Splitting the Rays season is a loss for this community,” Christaldi says. “It may make sense financially for the Rays. It may be ultimately what happens, but it's a loss for the community … to lose a professional sports team, even half time, is a loss.”

A rendering of the proposed $892 million Tampa Bay Rays stadium in Ybor City. Tampa leaders say the ballpark plan remains viable despite the Rays pulling the plug on a deal in December 2018. Courtesy photo.

Christaldi remains hopeful, though, and says the Ybor City stadium deal could be revived. Tampa has a new mayor in Jane Castor and new faces on city council that could bring fresh eyes and ideas — assuming Sternberg will agree to drop the Montreal plan. And Kriseman, though not budging on the Trop lease, has signaled a willingness to again let the team explore sites across the bay if that’s what it takes to keep baseball in the region.

The attorney also says stadium funding isn’t the deal killer that it was thought to be. By Christaldi’s calculations, the shortfall was somewhere around $80 million.

“Eighty million dollars is nothing to sneeze at,” he says. “But it’s not an insurmountable thing. It’s not a reason not to do a deal, particularly now, when we have a new governor who played baseball at Yale. He’s a baseball guy. I don’t know that the state would commit anything, but even if you got $1 million a year for 30 years, that’s $30 million toward your $80 million.”

Tampa Bay Rays 2020 lined up $16 million in annual corporate commitments that could be used to help finance the Ybor City stadium. But many other potential donors shied away, not wanting to throw dollars at a hypothetical project.

“There was a reticence until there was an expression by the government and the Rays that they were going to do it," Christaldi says. "No big brand wants to be a founder of something that goes on to fail or something that becomes a political pariah.”

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/506312880/james-joyce-irish-pub-eatery-wins-numerous-prestigious-awards-including-coveted-tampa-bay-times-ultimate-bar-award

James Joyce Irish Pub & Eatery Wins Numerous Prestigious Awards, Including Coveted Tampa Bay Times Ultimate Bar Award

The pub is renowned on Trip Advisor and boasts some of the best burgers in America.

(Follow link for full article.)

https://patch.com/florida/stpete/take-virtual-tour-new-st-pete-pier

Take A Virtual Tour Of The New St. Pete Pier

The virtual tour gives residents a preview of various features of the St. Pete Pier.

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/st-petersburg-florida-launches-30-year-planning-project-online-survey-stpete2050/67-39b2291f-1789-4765-8921-d17565112f5d

Take the survey for St. Petersburg's new 30-year planning project

According to the city’s website, “StPete2050 is a city-wide conversation about ​where our city is going and what it can become over the next 30 years."

(Follow link for full article.)

https://patch.com/florida/stpete/sunken-gardens-celebrates-100-years-roadside-attraction

Sunken Gardens Celebrates 100 Years As Roadside Attraction

Special guests will include St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman and Ken Breslauer, author of "Florida Roadside Attractions History."

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/jan/03/diego-alonso-inter-miami-david-beckham

Who is Diego Alonso, David Beckham's new manager at Inter Miami?

For a project which is looking to the Americas rather than merely America, the well-traveled Uruguayan seems to be the perfect hire

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.wane.com/sports/fort-wayne-fc-holds-mens-soccer-tryouts/

Fort Wayne FC holds men’s soccer tryouts

FORT WAYNE- The newly formed Fort Wayne FC is held their first-ever open tryouts for a spot on the 2020 roster.

Fort Wayne FC presents the highest competitive play of a men’s outdoor soccer team in Northeast Indiana. Fort Wayne FC will begin competitive play in May of 2020 in the Great Lakes Conference of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), a national outdoor soccer league at the fourth tier of the United States soccer pyramid.

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1074945

TRANSACTIONS: San Antonio Adds Gorskie to Defense

FORMER SAFC STANDOUT FORBES JOINS AUSTIN; EL PASO BRINGS LOMIS ABOARD

New San Antonio FC signing Hunter Gorskie has competed for both the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Loudoun United FC in the Championship previously. | Photo courtesy Matt May / Tampa Bay Rowdies

SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio FC announced on Thursday it had signed defender Hunter Gorskie for the 2020 USL Championship season pending league and federation approval. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We are excited to welcome Hunter Gorskie to the SAFC family,” said SAFC Head Coach Alen Marcina. “Hunter brings leadership on and off the field, championship experience, and a commitment to helping drive our culture. As a team, we seek great communicators and high tactical awareness, which Hunter demonstrates both.”

Gorskie joins SAFC after spending parts of the 2019 season with Loudoun United in the Championship, and Thisted FC in the Danish second division. Gorskie made 13 appearances with Thisted prior to joining Loudon for the tail end of the 2019 season where he made six appearances and won 20 duels.

The 28-year-old has made prior stops at the New York Cosmos, Polish club Miedz Legnica and the Championship’s Tampa Bay Rowdies. The defender spent two seasons with the Rowdies, with his most successful coming in 2018 where he served as a team captain and appeared in a team-high 34 matches, compiling 2,904 minutes played and scoring two goals.

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/01/02/mls-commissioner-don-garber-shares-message-club-supporters

MLS Commissioner Don Garber shares message with club supporters

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.iol.co.za/sport/soccer/premier-league/even-old-traffords-young-are-starting-to-look-elsewhere-40081179

Even Old Trafford's young are starting to look elsewhere

Manchester United's Tahith Chong runs after the ball during their English FA Cup third round soccer match against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Molineux Stadium in Wolverhampton, England on Saturday. Photo: Rui Vieira/AP

MANCHESTER – It used to be the case that players only left Manchester United when the club decided it was time for them to go.

David Beckham, Roy Keane, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Jaap Stam were among the United stars who were hurried through the exit once Sir Alex Ferguson decided enough was enough. Cristiano Ronaldo was a rare exception to the rule. Paul Pogba, too, when he went against Ferguson’s wishes to join Juventus in 2012.

Times have changed, however. Pogba still wants to leave — a scenario that seems increasingly likely next summer — but he is no longer alone. United do not have the pulling power of old. Just ask Erling Haaland.

Last summer, Romelu Lukaku effectively forced a move to Inter Milan after missing most of pre-season and then turning up to train with Anderlecht. And one look at the United team sheet at Molineux reminded you of more problems a little closer to home.

Star academy pupils, Tahith Chong and Angel Gomes, have picked up the club’s young player of the year award in two of the past three seasons. Yet both have so far rejected the offer of new contracts. They can leave for nothing in the summer and have been free to negotiate with foreign clubs since New Year’s Day amid interest from Juventus and Barcelona, respectively.

For a club of United’s stature — and one with such a proud tradition of promoting young talent — it has become an awkward situation. To be fair to United, neither Chong nor Gomes have made the same impact on the first team as Mason Greenwood and Brandon Williams, who both started this third-round tie.

Chong did, too, and his performance was typical of the Holland Under-21 winger — full of energy and running but lacking an end product. Gomes, 19, did not make it off the bench to add to his eight senior appearances. But the fact they are open to leaving Old Trafford is a sign of the times.

‘You’re not famous anymore,’ taunted the Wolves fans who have seen Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side fail to win on this ground in four attempts over the last nine-and-half months.

While that may not be strictly true, United no longer call all the shots.

(Follow link for full article.)

https://extra.ie/2020/01/05/sport/soccernews/beckhams-inter-miami-reach-verbal-agreement-with-premier-league-winner

Beckham’s Inter Miami reach ‘verbal agreement’ with Premier League winner