The anti-Beckhams: the UK footballers choosing to start their careers in the US

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https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2017/sep/12/young-english-players-abroad-mls-nasl-football

The anti-Beckhams: the UK footballers choosing to start their careers in the US

MLS has long been derided as a retirement home for aging stars. But some young English players are choosing to kickstart their careers in the States

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http://www.espnfc.com/major-league-soccer/19/blog/post/3201480/atlanta-united-make-most-of-new-stadium-though-boost-wore-off-for-orlando

Atlanta United must be wary of what happens after 'new stadium boost'

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http://thecomeback.com/nfl/after-four-months-and-one-loss-the-patriots-are-replacing-their-most-advanced-fieldturf.html

After four months and one loss, the Patriots are replacing their “most-advanced” FieldTurf

The new turf was just installed in May, but is already being replaced.

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http://wtnh.com/2017/09/11/pats-replacing-turf-field-after-opener/

Pats replacing turf field after opener

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https://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/features/atlanta-united-stadium-debut-mercedes-benz-mls-watershed-moment

Why Atlanta's stadium reveal was a rare, watershed moment for Major League Soccer

MLS' history is surprisingly short on showcase events in major markets. Sunday gave us one.

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http://www.delcotimes.com/article/DC/20170911/SPORTS/170919903

Radnor’s Holt hopes to finish in San Antonio what he started in Delco

Radnor graduate Tim Holt is the managing director of San Antonio FC, which hopes to land one of four expansion bids to join MLS. Submitted photo — Courtesy of San Antonio FC

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http://www.espnfc.com/major-league-soccer/story/3201928/bob-bradley-says-atlanta-uniteds-first-year-success-cant-compare-to-1998-chicago-fire

Bob Bradley: Atlanta United's first-year success can't compare to 1998 Fire

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http://www.espn.co.uk/football/major-league-soccer/19/blog/post/3201549/after-hurricane-harvey-houston-dynamo-players-and-staff-did-what-they-could-to-help

Harvey's aftermath: How the Dynamo helped hurricane-hit Houston

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https://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/features/how-nycfc-improved-2016-mls-contender-might-not-matter-toronto-fc

How NYCFC improved on a breakthrough 2016 ... and why it might not even matter

New York City FC has the making of a champion ... in another year, when Toronto FC doesn't look close to perfect.

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https://ussoccerplayers.com/2017/09/are-the-lower-divisions-playing-a-losing-game-soccer.html

Are the lower divisions playing a losing game?

By J Hutcherson (Sep 12, 2017) US Soccer Players - The immediate question is which lower divisions? In England, the lower divisions are chasing a Premier League dream. Even the nice and cuddly clubs dedicated to their local communities and in no position to chase expensive by their standards moves. They're all looking at the pyramid and wondering "what if?". None of them are going to happily self relegate rather than take the Premier League's money. There's no such thing as "thanks but no thanks" in that competitive environment.

In Scotland, the lower divisions are a problem with clubs needing to meet minimums for the topflight. The Scottish Premier League doesn't hold the promise of ridiculous riches. Whether or not playing for 2nd or 3rd in a league dominated by one club now and two clubs historically holds much allure is an open question.

Meanwhile, across the North Sea there are Dutch clubs that have turned down promotion from amateur to the professional level. That became such a trend that the Dutch leagues restructured the third division and made promotion mandatory. It's worth pointing out that their topflight has one club playing in a stadium with a listed capacity of 4500 and another at 8k. Those wouldn't be out of place in the fourth division.

In North America, the only promotion from the lower divisions to MLS is economic. Teams from the NASL and USL chase that dream, needing acceptance as an expansion franchise and writing a significant check. In Mexico, winning promotion takes multiple years and occasionally ends up with the promoted team getting bought out by the relegated team.

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https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/09/12/trivento-named-official-wine-mls-new-multi-year-sponsorship-deal

Trivento named official wine of MLS in new multi-year sponsorship deal

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https://au.sports.yahoo.com/a/37054433/rays-eager-to-return-to-post-irma-tampa-bay-after-home-series-in-new-york/

Rays eager to return to post-Irma Tampa Bay area after 'home' series in New York

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http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/832575

Jane Named USL Player of the Week

Kickers midfielder played key role in victory against Orlando City B

TAMPA, Fla. – Richmond Kickers midfielder Sunny Jane has been voted the USL Player of the Week for Week 25 of the 2017 season. Jane recorded a goal and also set up the game-winner, as the Kickers handed Orlando City B a 2-0 defeat last Thursday at Orlando City Stadium to break OCB’s 12-game undefeated streak.

Jane received 32 percent of the poll conducted by a national panel of independent media representing every USL market. Tampa Bay Rowdies forward Georgi Hristov finished second with 26 percent of the poll.

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https://www.hudsonriverblue.com/2017/9/12/16290748/nycfc-scouting-ben-sweat-rj-allen-ethan-white

For NYCFC, superior scouting has produced surprisingly valuable contributors

Several players who were passed on by other teams have made a real impact this year in the Five Boroughs.

Entering the year, if I told you NYCFC have one of the best left backs in the league, you would have agreed that Ronald Matarrita is good. But if I told you that man would be Ben Sweat, most recently of the Tampa Bay Rowdies, you would have laughed at me. Sweat has been invaluable this season, filling in for Matarrita. He is not only filling in, but excelling. He is currently second in assists for defenders, with six.

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/soccer-insider/wp/2017/09/12/its-time-for-change-boston-attorney-will-challenge-sunil-gulati-for-u-s-soccer-presidency/?utm_term=.b69dbd7efacb

‘It’s time for change’: Boston attorney will challenge Sunil Gulati for U.S. Soccer presidency

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http://www.northernstartingeleven.com/the-canadian-premier-league-junejuly-rumour-roundup/

The Canadian Premier League: July/August Rumour Roundup

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https://www.reddit.com/r/MLS/comments/6zn92m/the_canadian_premier_league_julyaugust_rumour/

The Canadian Premier League: July/August Rumour Roundup (northernstartingeleven.com)

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http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2017/09/11/soccer-in-the-city-jon-patricof/

‘Soccer In The City’ Podcast: An Interview With NYCFC President Jon Patricof

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https://www.reddit.com/r/MLS/comments/6zl690/nycfc_soccer_in_the_city_podcast_w_nycfc/

NYCFC Soccer in the City podcast w/ NYCFC President Jon Patricof mentions post-match incident (~59:50) (newyork.cbslocal.com)

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https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/09/10/chasing-history-toronto-fc-pace-one-greatest-seasons-ever

Chasing History: Toronto FC on pace for one of the greatest seasons ever

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https://ballparkdigest.com/2017/09/12/rays-hoping-to-return-to-tropicana-on-friday/

Rays Hoping to Return to Tropicana on Friday

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http://www.cltampa.com/news-views/local-news/article/20975386/power-still-out-for-millions-as-irma-aftermath-continues

Power still out for millions across Florida as Irma aftermath continues

In St. Pete, officials pledge to restore power to all by Friday.

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https://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/features/analysis-toronto-fc-record-setting-2016-mls-season-chicago-bulls-golden-state-warriors

How Toronto's success is transcending Major League Soccer

The comparisons go beyond one league. The Chicago Bulls, Golden State Warriors -- those are the examples TFC must follow.

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http://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/2017/09/12/frequently-questions-nashville-sc/594543001/

Nashville SC: Everything you need to know

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http://www.lebanondemocrat.com/Community/2017/09/12/Nashville-soccer-kicked-around-with-Lebanon-Noon-Rotary-Club.html

Nashville soccer kicked around with Lebanon Noon Rotary Club

A former Lebanon Democrat editor spoke to the Lebanon Noon Rotary Club on Tuesday about the possibility a Major League Soccer team headed to Nashville.

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https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2017/09/12/power-outages-trees-and-storm-debris-top-post-irma.html

Power outages, trees and storm debris top post-Irma concerns for St. Petersburg officials

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https://nesn.com/2017/09/mls-weekly-round-up-scores-standings-schedule-rumors-in-usa-soccer-league/

MLS Weekly Round-Up: Scores, Standings, Schedule, Rumors In USA Soccer League

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https://nesn.com/2017/09/transfer-news-manchester-city-to-sign-top-mls-sporting-kc-prospect/

Transfer News: Manchester City Reportedly Signs Top MLS, USA Soccer Prospect

Soccer Liverpool Manchester United Arsenal Premier League Transfer News: Manchester City Reportedly Signs Top MLS, USA Soccer Prospect by Marcus Kwesi O'Mard on Tue, Sep 12, 2017 at 12:15PM 1,720 Share this: 2Share on Facebook (Opens in new window)2 Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Click to email (Opens in new window) Erik Palmer-Brown will take his soccer talents to Manchester, England, next year. The United States youth national team defender has signed a pre-contract with Manchester City and will join the Premier League club in January as a free agent, according to ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle and The Kansas City Star’s Sam McDowell. Palmer-Brown will finish the 2017 Major League Soccer season with Sporting Kansas City before starting his European soccer career in earnest.

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http://www.miamitodaynews.com/2017/09/12/fyi-miami-september-14-2017/

FYI Miami: September 14, 2017

SOCCER DEAL A PIPE DREAM: Last year the Miami-Dade County Commission voted to direct 25% of all profits from the sale of county-owned property to the affordable housing trust fund. At its last meeting, Commissioner Xavier Suárez asked if the $9 million property the county is to sell to Miami Beckham United to construct the Major League Soccer stadium would go to the fund. The Miami-Dade County Water and Sewer Department owns the 2.79-acre property and it falls under its trust agreement, the budget department said. If the sale is completed, the most recent legislation from July “directs the proceeds of the sale to be deposited in WASD’s [fund],” and it would not benefit the affordable housing trust.

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http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/soccer/ct-steve-gans-sunil-gulati-us-soccer-presidency-20170912-story.html

'It's time for change': Boston attorney will challenge Sunil Gulati for U.S. Soccer presidency