8.22.14
ASN Morning Read: Tim Takes Ball, Goes Home
The United States No. 1 netminder decides to take some time off but will his spot be there for him when he returns in September, 2015?; an Academy gets some love; the women win.
BY
Noah Davis
Posted
August 22, 2014
8:20 AM
Tim Howard is taking a break. “We had a very good and productive conversation,” Jurgen Klinsmann said. “I totally understand Tim’s situation. He was very straightforward and honest in his approach, and I admire him for that. He has a wish to take a step back to take care of his family, and we came to the conclusion that it’s absolutely fine that he takes time off from international soccer until after next summer’s Gold Cup, and then we reevaluate. I told him as long as he is the same Tim Howard that we always see performing well, he will be welcomed back with open arms and right back competing for a spot. He knows that he has to prove that he deserves to be back.”
At least one member of the ASN staff agrees with this sentiment:
How much would you like to know about Gyasi Zardes and the LA Galaxy Academy? "Only time's going to tell, but certainly it's a good sign to have an academy player have success with the first team," Bruce Arena told the Los Angeles Times in one of his blander quotes. "That's the reason we're spending all of that time and resources in our academy program."
The U.S. women beat Switzerland 4-1, with goals coming from Megan Rapinoe, Carli Lloyd, Christen Press, and, of course, Abby Wambach. John Halloran with your takeaway: "U.S. fans got a chance to see the best and worst of Rapinoe in the attacking midfield role... Rapinoe's creative flair, excellent long-passing game, outstanding vision, and goal-scoring ability seem to make her a perfect fit for the No. 10 role. However, she also gave the ball away in the middle of the field on multiple occasions—something the 19th-ranked Swiss were unable to take advantage of. If those same mistakes had happened against teams like Germany and Japan, the teams the U.S. will likely need to beat to win a World Cup next summer, it is likely the U.S. would have given up several goals."
Fabian Johnson did something good in a game you definitely were not watching.
Jonah Freedman steps away after four and a half years with MLSSoccer.com. We'll wish him well and will miss his bad jokes: "I’ve spent the past decade as a soccer journo. I’ve been to two World Cups, six MLS Cups, three CONCACAF Gold Cups, around 50 US national team games and I’ve attended more MLS regular-season games than nights Jermaine Jones has spent at swank nightclubs springing for bottle service."
