August 1, 2006
The biggest news coming out of the training sessions today was that New England and US Men's National Team star Clint Dempsey did not make the trip. He reportedly was headed back to Boston for an MRI on an injured leg.
It will be interesting to see how long New England head coach Steve Nicol goes with players like Taylor Twellman and Steve Rolston who have battled injury issues this season. Especially Twellman, the reigning MLS MVP, who came out of the Revs match in KC on Saturday due to a lingering injury.
While the news of Dempsey not making the trip isn't good for the entertainment value of the match, it only helps the Rhinos chances of advancing to the Quarterfinals of this year's Lamar Hunt US Open Cup tournament.
Steve Ralston likely happy to see PAETEC Park
Ten years ago, as a rookie for the Tampa Bay Mutiny, New England midfielder Steve Ralston was a member of the first victims of the Rochester Rhinos and their history of upsets over MLS teams in the US Open Cup.
Ralston did comment today that he likes the FieldTurf at PAETEC Park a lot more than the baseball field at Frontier Field.
Plus, the new confines likely reduce the number of bad memories of that monumental 4-3 OT win by the Rhinos. But, newly signed third string goalkeeper Billy Andracki will be one person that can remind Steve of that fateful night a decade ago.
John Harkes finally named as Arena's assistant in New York
What has been rumored for weeks was finally made official yesterday as Red Bull New York announced that former US Men's National Team captain John Harkes was joining Bruce Arena's staff as an assistant coach.
Harkes played for Bruce Arena at Virginia and with DC United, so the two have a long history together. They also have New Jersey roots in common, as well.
Agoos and Kovalenko headed to New York as well?
Two more former members of DC United are now rumored to potentially being headed to New York as well.
Former US Men's National Team defender Jeff Agoos is rumored to be headed to Red Bull NY as a possible technical director of the club.
And former Chicago Fire and DC United midfielder and Section V high school star Dema Kovalenko might be headed back to MLS with the Red Bulls.
As a DC United fan and MetroStars/Red Bulls hater, it is really tough to see so many former DC United greats headed to the swamp...........
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