Good morning everyone and welcome to the MLS Morning Mixer your one stop destination for everything going in MLS and US Soccer!
Let’s check out some of the headlines:
Thierry Henry announces his retirement from football.-BBC
There was a large amount of speculation as to where the former Arsenal and New York Red Bulls striker might go after leaving MLS in 2014. It turns out he just wants to relax on the French Riviera and enjoy a bottle of champagne. Bonsoir, Monsieur Henry! May the television companies pay you a truck load of money and may you never step foot on an artificial pitch again!
New England Revolution defender A.J. Soares is heading to the Serie A.-MLS Soccer
When one thinks about MLS players going to Europe the names that are normally mentioned are the likes of Bill Hamid, Dom Dwyer, Gyassi Zardes, or George John (had to put in one throwback rumor.) But Soares signing with Hellonas Verona in Serie A seemed to come out of left field.
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It seems to be a good move for Soares who made 32 starts for the Revolution in 2014. Verona are in 13th place in Serie A, but only five points clear of relegation. With the Christmas break fast approaching, and a chance to play Juventus in the Coppa Italia, the timing seems to be right for the 26-year old to make the jump.
Alexi Lalas is leaving ESPN for Fox – SI.com
One half of the “Big Head and Red” duo has left Bristol, Connecticut for the land of Rupert Murdoch. This seems like just another shift in the coverage of soccer here in the United States with Fox now controlling the rights to the upcoming Men’s and Women’s World Cups, the UEFA Champions League (and its cousin Oliver, the Europa League,) The FA Cup, Bundesliga, the CONCACAF Champions League, and starting in 2015 MLS coverage.
No word on if Lalas will provide the opening tune to Fox’s MLS broadcasts. For all of our sakes, lets hope not.
Red Bulls goalkeeper Santiago Castano has joined up with the Colombia U-20 squad.- MLS Soccer
Let’s queue up the always exciting “What does it mean to be an American?” debate.
FIFA rules that FIFA did nothing wrong in ethics investigation.- FIFA.com
In other news: the sun also rose today.
Chicago Fire have signed Ghanaian David Accam– Chicago Sun Times
Accam, who does have one cap with Ghana’s national team, will likely pair up with Kennedy Igboananike the club’s other Designated Player signing this winter. Accam had 17 goals with the Milk Cow in 2014, helping the club reach ninth place in Sweden’s first division, the Allsvenskan.
What will be interesting is how both players transition from the Swedish first division (Accam played for Helsingborgs, while Igboananike was most recently with AIK) to MLS. Both leagues are very physical leagues but there is a higher fluctuation in temperature here in the United States, which can throw some players off at first. The good news is that Sweden has a very similar schedule to that of MLS so both players should be well rested come February.