Who's in Arena's League?

Soccer America Magazine recently put out a list of possible successors to Bruce Arena should the U.S. national team coach not retain his position. The list is a good start but it fails to mention Peter Nowak who, call me crazy (and maybe I am), should at least be a dark horse to get the job.

Since retiring from the Chicago Fire, Nowak has entered the management side of MLS with great results. Nowak won the MLS Cup in his first year as coach of D.C. United and last year guided the team to its most regular season wins since 1999. This year, he's got the team running away with the Eastern Conference regular season title. A short but very sweet track record.

Nowak played overseas for years, most notably in the Bundesliga. He also earned 24 caps for the Polish national team.

I know he seems relatively green but he actually has more coaching experience that Jürgen Klinsmann had before taking over the German side that just advanced to the semi-finals. Nowak wasn't nearly the player that Klinsmann was, but Nowak's brief time as a coach tells you he has the potential to be as good of a coach.

MLS Taking on the World

The MLS is always in need of exposure. So it's a good thing that MLS teams have scheduled a number of exhibition games against European sides this summer. The MLS All-Star team will take on mighty Chelsea on August 5 at Toyota Park. The Revolution host Celtic, winners of the Scottish Premier League, on July 19 and the Columbus Crew take on Everton a week later. The Fire and CD Chivas USA also have international titls on their schedules.

Each of these games is an opportunity to showcase the growth of our country's league. On the flip side, each game can also reveal the gap between the MLS and European soccer.

The most important of these games - and, by consequence, the one in which the MLSers have to perform well - is the All-Star game against Chelsea. Chelsea is well-konwn name in these parts and plenty of American soccer fans will tune in to watch them in this nationally televised game. Many of these viewers are unsold on the quality of the MLS. They may tune in to watch Chelsea, but a good showing from our league's best players could go a long way towards converting MLS doubters. A poor showing, would reinforce the common sentiment that the MLS is an extremely subpar league. With any luck, Chelsea will play its regulars and the All-Stars will hold their own and add some legitimacy to the growing league.

On another note, Peter Novak's stellar record this season at D.C. United has earned him the right to coach the MLS All-Stars. He's certainly a name that ought to be mentioned as a potential successor to Bruce Arena. More on that tomorrow.

Arena to NY?

Check out the New York Daily News' article about Bruce Arena as a potential successor to Mo Johnston at Red Bull New York. If nothing else, it's an interesting rumor.

Dempsey to the Rescue

The other day I wrote that the Revolution needed to make better use of Taylor Twellman. Twellman hadn't gotten the ball at his feet in dangerous situations often enough and, consequently, the Revs attack had sputtered. Turns out that all Twellman needed to get back on track was for Clint Dempsey to return from Germany.

The past few games, Twellman strayed to the flanks to receive the ball -- essentially taking over Dempsey's job. It's pretty tough to play the role of two players though, so methinks that having Dempsey do Dempsey's job will let Twellman get back to finishing opportunities in front of goal.

Dempsey looked dangerous throughout the first half, getting behind FC Dallas' strong back line. Twenty-three minutes in, Dempsey broke free down the right side and sent a ball across the mouth of the goal that Twellman easily touched into the net (Dempsey's cross was similar to the one DaMarcus Beasley played to set up Clint's goal against Ghana).

The other day I wrote that the Revs needed to make better use of Twellman because he was the best player on the field. Now it's safe to say that Dempsey is. Watch him while you can because contract offers from Europe are likely in his not-so-distant future.

Quick Questions:

Does anyone know what Luca Toni is yelling whenever he misses a scoring chance? The guy's intense. He must lead this World Cup in slo-mo, headshot replays where his mouth opens wider than a Fiat. I say we get him and Stephen A. Smith in a room together as soon as possible. Imagine them yelling at each other about absolutely nothing and in different languages. For some reason the idea just makes me smile.

And could Thierry Henry have butchered the celebration of Viera's go-ahead goal against Spain any worse than he did? First, his sommersault looked forced and took him about three yards past the celebration. Then he took a hop step before mounting the guy on top of the dogpile. From there, he proceeded to rotate his body counter clockwise on top of the pile with his legs flying in the air. It was weird. You can thank TiVo for that breakdown.

Convey Weighs In On Cup

In an interview posted on his club's website, Bobby Convey said his first World Cup was an "amazing" and "happy" experience. Not surprisingly, he also criticized FIFA's officiating, saying that the referees "ruined" the games against Italy and Ghana.

One of the few bright spots of the United States' stay in Germany, the 5'9'' left outside midfielder is eager to put the disappointments of the World Cup behind him and focus on the upcoming Premiership season. Last year, Convey was a big reason why Reading FC earned a promotion to England's highest level. I'll be sure to keep you posted on his play in the Premier League this season.

The Gods Must Be Crazy...About Italy

Looks like the soccer gods are back on the Italians' side. After the heartbreak of Baggio in '94 and DiBiaggio in '98, the Azzurri are finally getting some breaks. The call for a PK against Australia yesterday was horrendous - I don't see how you can call that on such a flimsy foul with only seconds until overtime. Let the players decide the game's outcome, not the referee.

If that call wasn't enough to show you that someone up there is smiling on the Italians, the fact that they get Ukraine in the quarterfinals should seal the deal. A team that lost to Spain 4-0 and then advanced to the quarters with a shootout win over the Swiss shouldn't strike fear in Totti and the gang.

Still, it's not as if we should hand them the trophy yet. They would get the winner of Argentina-Germany after the Ukraine game.

Open For Business

Tonight's official opening of Toyota Park, the pristine new home of the Chicago Fire, brings yet more legitimacy to the MLS. The Fire join the Columbus Crew, CD Chivas USA, Los Angeles Galaxy and FC Dallas as a team that plays in a soccer-specific stadium. The New England Revolution ownership has begun a search for possible sites for a soccer-only stadium as well.

Every MLS team ought to play in its own park. These stadiums provide an intimate setting for watching an MLS match. Because they are built for soccer rather than football, they are considerably smaller (Toyota Park holds 20,000). They put the fans on top of the players and each other. While an average MLS crowd leaves football stadiums feeling empty and without life, these new parks force the crowd into a condensed, yet comfortable space. With all the patrons in a smaller area, the crowd surely appears to be more vibrant, loud and involved (similar to what happens in packed college basketball arenas compared to larger NBA arenas where a similar amount of people fail to create such an animated setting). This undoubtedly enhances the game for the players and the fans.

These new stadiums are a hit at the box office as well. Consider the numbers: Teams with a soccer-specific facility averaged 16,347 in attendance per game in 2005, while teams without a soccer-specific stadium averaged 14,685 per game.

Revs Get Lucky

The New England Revolution were dissatisfied with last week's draw with Columbus, but they should be anything but after their tie at Real Salt Lake. The Revs were extremely fortunate to leave with the point as they, with a little help from Salt Lake's Jeff Cunningham, played RSL to a scoreless draw.

The depleted Revs looked tired in the midfield, allowing Chris Klein and Medhi Ballouchy too much time and space. Those two provided Cunningham with several scoring opportunities - and he blew each one. Hey, at least he was consistent.

Credit Shalrie Joseph and Jose Cancela for playing the ball quickly and creating chances throughout the second half. Still, the Revs have got to find Twellman more. It's as much his responsibility to find space as it is the creative midfielders' responsibility to play him the ball but, with all their injuries, New England need to work together to take advantage of having the best player on the field.