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Around the Forest: Falcao to Atlanta United?

Also: Who has the toughest schedule, MLS coach denies rumors, Jurgen Klinsmann would have quit and more!

Portland

Paraguayan youngster Cristhian Paredes emerging as steady force in Portland Timbers midfield | OregonLive.com
Cristhian Paredes would spend his afternoons as a 14-year-old on a city bus making the more than hour-long trek alone from his hometown in Yaguaron, Paraguay to the Club Sol de America training grounds in the capital city of Asuncion.

Thorns FC head coach Mark Parsons: "Moments like this will define the success teams have" | Portland Timbers
Thorns FC returned to practice this week with the same intensity they’ve shown all season. To the eye, there was no increased urgency within the group. There was even a little levity at the beginning of Tuesday’s session, though not enough to depict a team losing focus. In terms of the broad swath of a professional soccer team’s season, it was business as usual at the adidas Timbers Training Center, a state that would be unremarkable if not for the team’s last five results.

Major League Soccer

Rumor: Atlanta United pursuing Colombian star Radamel Falcao? | MLSsoccer.com
Radamel Falcao has been lighting it up in Ligue 1 for Monaco, but could he be making a move stateside? The 32-year-old is rumored to be on the move this summer, and one potential landing spot could be Atlanta United, according to a report from Colombia's Antena 2. The report states that Atlanta have already made a bid for Falcao, offering him $4 million per year.

How Arthur Blank's Atlanta United Soccer Team Found Instant Success By Acting Like a Startup | Inc.com
There's an organization in Atlanta that hosts employee karaoke nights every few months. New hires always sing first. In late 2016, Gerardo "Tata" Martino, a transplant from Argentina, took his turn at the microphone--thrown into the fire despite having just begun English lessons. His song selection reflected his progress. "Head, shoulders, knees, and toes. Knees and toes," he sang, a cappella.

Baer: Who has faced the toughest and easiest schedules so far? | MLSsoccer.com
"You are what your record says you are." The quote above comes from legendary football coach Bill Parcells and it's hard to argue with. There are always other factors in a team's overall production and performance, but when it comes down to it, all that matters is what's in the win, loss and draw columns.

Report: Kaku considering one-time switch to play for Paraguay national team | MLSsoccer.com
He is one of the top newcomers in Major League Soccer, a major addition to the New York Red Bulls attack. And it appears that Argentine-born Alejandro Romero “Kaku” Gamarra could be bringing his playmaking ability to Paraguay.

ROKER ROUNDUP: MLS coach denies link to Sunderland gaffer’s job & club set to improve facilities
Colorado Rapids’ head coach Anthony Hudson was recently linked with the Sunderland manager’s job, with reports suggesting he was on a shortlist of four. As well as Hudson, that rumoured shortlist included Wigan manager Paul Cook, Michael Appleton - who is currently the assistant manager at Leicester - and the overwhelming favourite, Sheffield United’s Chris Wilder.

Paul Arriola wants to be DC United's man in the middle | MLSsoccer.com
When a red card suspension forced Paul Arriola out of D.C. United’s visit to the Philadelphia Union last month, the 23-year-old Designated Player embraced his task in training – impersonate Union captain Alejandro Bedoya with the second team in scrimmages against the starting XI.

Bad news for Matt Polster adds to Chicago Fire's list of injuries | Pro Soccer USA
Dax McCarty’s halftime exit in Saturday’s 3-0 loss at Columbus added to an injury list that already included six names. McCarty left with a hamstring injury that coach Veljko Paunović said will keep him out “a couple of weeks.” That’s not even the worst news on the injury front for the Fire.

United States

Minnesota's Allianz Field selected as 2019 Gold Cup venue | MLSsoccer.com
Concacaf began unveiling their venues for next year’s Gold Cup on Monday, announcing that LAFC’s brand-new Banc of California Stadium, located in Exposition Park in the heart of Los Angeles, will host matches during next summer’s tournament, as well as University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Jurgen Klinsmann would have quit U.S. if he knew he'd be fired for two losses
Former United States manager Jurgen Klinsmann said he believes the team was on track to qualify for this year's World Cup before he was removed as manager and the Americans subsequently missed out on Russia 2018.

World

Jerusalem soccer club seeks to change name to honor Trump | TheHill
"The chairmen of the club, the owner Eli Tabib and the executive manager Eli Ohana have decided to add to the club's title the name of the American President who made history, and from now on will be called Beitar Trump Jerusalem. We have the greatest love for the president, and we will win," the club said in a statement, according to The Jerusalem Post.

England World Cup squad: Has Southgate found answers to key questions? - BBC Sport
England manager Gareth Southgate has named his 23-man World Cup squad for Russia - and it is a mixture of the tried and trusted and the young bloods.

Gianluigi Buffon to leave Juventus; reveals offers that may hold off retirement
Gianluigi Buffon has confirmed he will leave Juventus after 17 years, with Saturday's Serie A fixture against Hellas Verona his last match for the club but not necessarily of his career.