Portland:
Diego Valeri, Fanendo Adi have a combined five braces in 2017 | Portland Timbers
The Portland Timbers look to extend their two-game winning streak in MLS play as they head to the Centennial State to take on the Colorado Rapids Saturday at Dick's Sporting Goods Park (6:30pm PT, ROOT SPORTS). Here are five numbers to know for #COLvPOR in the latest Quick Strikes.
Major League Soccer:
Montreal Impact part ways with midfielder Adrian Arregui | MLSsoccer.com
Adrian Arregui's short time in Montreal has come to an end, with the Impact announcing Friday morning that they had parted ways with the Argentine midfielder after mutually agreeing to terminate his loan.
Armchair Analyst: On the Radar for Week 16 of the MLS season | MLSsoccer.com
League action reclaims the spotlight after a weekend of international play and the midweek Open Cup date. As we approach the halfway mark of the season (we're just three weeks away), I'll go out there on this ledge: There are five teams I am certain are very good. They are, in order......
PSV Eindhoven's Andres Guardado set for LAFC move - sources - ESPN FC
PSV Eindhoven's Mexico international midfielder Andres Guardado has agreed a four-year deal to join Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC, sources have told ESPN's John Sutcliffe.
Webb: Refs aiming for handball consistency - ESPN FC
Former Premier League referee Howard Webb shares his thoughts on the subjectivity of handball decisions in the modern game.
Columbus Crew SC lament being "inches away" in US Open Cup loss | MLSsoccer.com
Gregg Berhalter’s Columbus Crew SC squad fell short in the U.S. Open Cup once more Wednesday, this time on wha
WATCH: Best Panenka goals in league history | MLSsoccer.com
It takes certain sort of player to have the guts to step up and chip a penalty a la Panenka. Plenty have tried the move in MLS, and plenty have pulled it off. Watch some of the best Panenkas in MLS history.
EXCLUSIVE: Whitecaps youth residency program player allegedly sexually assaulted by teammates, mother claims - BC | Globalnews.ca
The mother of a Vancouver Whitecaps’ youth residency player says her son was attacked by teammates following a training session. “These were his teammates,” the distraught mother told Global News. “It’s mind-blowing to think that this even happened.”
United States:
Arena has exceeded expectations since replacing Klinsmann as U.S. manager - ESPN FC
When Bruce Arena took over the U.S. men's national team in late November, he inherited a squad in disarray. The Americans found themselves in last place of the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, mired in mediocrity and trending downward as previous manager Jurgen Klinsmann's motivational ploys and tactics lost effectiveness.
Jesse Gonzalez's paperwork for U.S.-Mexico switch not submitted to FIFA - ESPN FC
FC Dallas goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez has begun the process of tying his international allegiance to the U.S., but the paperwork needed to switch from Mexico has not been submitted to FIFA, a U.S. Soccer Federation spokesman told ESPN FC.
Christian Pulisic: leading the U.S. Soccer renaissance - Stars and Stripes FC
Put the age aside, Christian Pulisic has rejuvenated the United States Men’s National Team and soccer in America as a whole. Going into the 2018 World Cup, there is a different stigma about U.S. Soccer and the Pulisic’s emergence has been a major key.
My Non-AO Trip to La Azteca! - Big D Soccer
Going rogue instead of buying the American Outlaw package. I’ll be forever grateful to my cousin who out of the blue invited me to go to the Mexico vs USA match in beautiful Mexico City where he lives. Muchisimas gracias primo!
World:
Cristiano Ronaldo wants to leave Real Madrid - Managing Madrid
Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo wants to leave Real Madrid this summer after the tax accusation scandal published this week. The winger doesn't want to live in Spain anymore and England, France and Italy are all viable destination for him, according to A Bola.
Gianluca Di Marzio :: Donnarumma will not extend contract with Milan, club: "disheartened by his decision"
Milan announced in a press gathering just after the meeting with the agent Mino Raiola ended that the goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma would not extend his contract.
Statistical Analysis:
Mapping Defensive Actions: A Spatial Analysis of Where Teams Focus Their Efforts — American Soccer Analysis
Every team has its own “style”. Some teams bunker, some teams high-press, some clog the middle, some work the wings. Where they defend is a major part of what defines their style. The recipe for a team’s defensive shape is one part tactics and 11 parts players on the field. Certain players seem to naturally gravitate their efforts to particular areas, be it the wing they’re assigned to, their preferred foot, their favorite partner-in-crime or how they’re instructed to approach the opposition. In the end, the action happens in consistent general areas of the field, but in complex patterns.
Tactical Theory: Rotation
One of the constants in modern football is that tactical trends will come and go with teams and analysts adopting the characteristics of whatever team or coach is seen to be in vogue at the moment. From the possession orientated style of Pep Guardiola and Barcelona to the counter pressing of Jurgen Klopp at Borussia Dortmund we have seen styles of play come and go in recent years.