The Yankees are branching off into the beautiful game.

The baseball franchise announced Tuesday morning they will be forming a new MLS team, named the New York City Football Club, which will join the league in 2015. The Yankees are forming the team in conjunction with Manchester City, one of the most powerful clubs in the world.

Manchester City will be the majority owner of the new club.

Manchester City was purchased by the Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008, which has poured massive amounts of money into the club. The club brought in international stars such as Yaya Toure and David Silva. They won the English Premier League title in 2012 for the first time since 1968. They were shocked by Wigan in the FA Cup final just two weeks ago, with a 1-0 loss. They fired manager Roberto Mancini days later.

“We proudly welcome two of the most prestigious professional global sports organizations to Major League Soccer,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a statement. “This is a transformational development that will elevate the league to new heights in this country. The New York area is home to more than 19 million people­, and we look forward to an intense crosstown rivalry between New York City Football Club and the New York Red Bulls that will captivate this great city.”

The franchise will be the 20th in MLS.

“We are pleased to be associated with this major move by MLS to increase its presence in the New York market and to enhance the opportunity for New York soccer fans to enjoy high-level play in their own city,” Yankees managing partner Hal Steinbrenner said in a statement. “We look forward to the opportunity to work with Manchester City to create something very special for the soccer fans of New York.”

The team has not yet announced where in the city they will play, but promised a permanent stadium will be built. The city has discussed building a new stadium in Queens at Flushing Meadows Corona Park. The owners of New York City FC said they would “continue these discussions.”

Follow Metro New York Sports Editor Mark Osborne on Twitter @MetroNYSports.

The post Yankees, Manchester City announce formation of new MLS team appeared first on Metro.us.

Sometimes, all it takes is to look at a team’s record to judge how much of an impact a player has on his team.

For the Philadelphia Union this season, look no further than forward Sebastien Le Toux.

Le Toux, who rejoined the Union in a trade after stints with the Vancouver Whitecaps and N.Y. Red Bulls last season, has made an immediate impact on the team from both a record and leadership standpoint.

“My goal this season is to bring the Union back to the playoffs,” said Le Toux. “Last season it didn’t happen which was very frustrating for this team. Making the playoffs against Houston [in 2011] was a great accomplishment, so I hope this season we can get back there. Once we’re in, anything is possible.”

Without Le Toux last season, the Union finished a disappointing 10-18-6 which placed them 15th out of the 19 total MLS clubs. With Le Toux in 2011, the Union finished an impressive 11-8-15 which placed them third in the Eastern Conference and they finished eighth in the league in points with 48.

Le Toux has inspired the Union, winners of two-straight, to a 2-1-0 record so far this season as they prepare to face their rival N.Y. Red Bulls [0-2-2] on the road Saturday. The Union have yet to win a game at Red Bull Arena in their four years as a club, but Le Toux thinks they’ll have a good chance this weekend.

“I think we have a great chance,” he said. “We’ve been great defensively and the Red Bulls seem to be struggling to find that cohesion right now between their team, so we have a great opportunity right now to use that to our advantage … To have nine points after four games would be great.”

One things, for sure: Expect a large crowd Saturday. The Sons of Ben will definitely make the two-hour drive out to see their team potentially get their third-straight win against the rival Red Bulls, a team who desperately seeks its first win.

“I expect a lot of people down there Saturday, especially with the afternoon kickoff,” said Le Toux. “We take pride in the fact that it’s a rivalry match against a bigger team that we don’t really like too much so it’s nice to have them behind us when we’re away. It’s going to be a great atmosphere and we just need to get a win for them [the Sons of Ben] over there.”

The match kicks off at 3:30 on the NBC Sports Network.

The post Le Toux looks to lead Union back to playoffs appeared first on Metro.us.

The Red Bulls open the season this Sunday at the Timbers, one of the most difficult places to play in MLS. Hopes are high in Mike Petke’s first season as head coach with the team trying to build on three straight trips to the postseason. It won’t be as easy as fans might hope.

The team has question marks and Petke has never been a head coach before, meaning there will be a severe learning curve on and off the field. And in Thierry Henry’s last season with the Red Bulls, the time is now for the franchise’s first MLS Cup. Patience from the team’s ownership in Austria might be next to nil.

Storylines to watch …

1. Where will the goals come from?

Last season, the Red Bulls offense was paced by Kenny Cooper’s 18 goals, but the hulking forward was traded to Dallas this offseason and he leaves a giant hole. His production will be replaced, in theory, by former Real Salt Lake forward Fabian Espindola. While gifted on the ball, Espindola is not a true goal scorer and unless he has a career year, goals may be hard to come by early on for the Red Bulls.

2. Will the backline be better?

For much of last year, the defense struggled to keep the ball out of their net, giving up 46 goals. The defense returns largely intact, with the only noticeable addition being Real Salt Lake defender Jamison Olave, a defender with a physical reputation but at 31 years old is losing his speed and cover ability. Given what appears to be a rather plebian attack, the defense must stay compact and tight. In their last five preseason games, New York has given up 11 goals. Things don’t seem to be getting much better and this again might be a struggle for New York.

3. Is Petke Ready?

A fan favorite after two playing tours with New York, Petke is the epitome of soccer in this region. He parlayed success in high school in Long Island to a solid college career and then a long and storied career as a rugged defender in MLS. But is he ready to coach the team? After being an assistant coach for just two years, there is still plenty for Petke to learn. The locker room loves him, but the players will need to learn to respect him.

Players to watch …

1. Lloyd Sam – The English midfielder was signed late last season and showed sparks in five games before being shelved with a knee injury. The 28-year-old winger is speedy and reads the game well but must be consistent in a midfield that might struggle to maintain possession.

2. Dax McCarty – Last year was a breakout season for the American midfielder, who is a pit bull in the center of the park. He deserved another call-up to the national team camp in January as he was in 2010. McCarty must continue to be a ball winner who will spark the attack.

3. Tim Cahill – The Australian international didn’t put up big numbers after his summer signing from Everton but he will be called on to pull the strings in the midfield. Cahill must be more daring this season if the Red Bulls again want to make the playoffs. He is a designated player and while his style isn’t flamboyant, he must begin to earn his high paycheck.

Follow Red Bulls beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

The post Red Bulls 2013 season preview appeared first on Metro.us.

The likes of prolific MLS goal-scorer Sebastien Le Toux and former Korean co-captain Lee Young-pyo have raised the standard and pedigree throughout the squad.

But even then, one piece remained missing: An experienced central midfielder able to dictate the pace of the game and contribute both offensively and defensively.

Manager Martin Rennie addressed that hole in a big way on Thursday, announcing the signing of 33-year-old Scottish international Barry Robson as the club’s newest designated player.

Currently with Middlesbrough in England’s second division, Robson is known as a talented and industrious midfielder who has notched 98 goals in 492 career matches with Inverness, Forfar Athletic, Dundee United, Celtic and the aforementioned ­Middlesbrough.

He has also made 16 international appearances for Scotland.

Robson won’t join up with the Whitecaps until July, as he tries to help his current club win promotion to the English Premier League.

Middlesbrough currently sits eighth in the Championship, seven points off league leaders West Ham United.

Robson has racked up eight goals and four assists in 26 appearances for Middlesbrough this season.
Rennie expressed surprise that he was able to lure Robson, a “long-shot” target, to the West Coast of Canada but wasn’t complaining on a conference call Thursday.

For his part, Robson said signing in Vancouver was a “no-brainer” despite offers on the table from Middlesbrough and other European clubs.

“It’s been something that’s been on my mind for a while,” said Robson.  “As soon as I got the offer from Martin and (assistant coach Paul Ritchie), it was a no-brainer for me.”

Robson and Ritchie played together at Dundee United and have remained close friends over the years.
Robson, naturally left-footed, said he can play anywhere along the midfield and Rennie is keeping an open mind about how to use his new weapon.

“It’s a good thing for us. We’ll see exactly where Barry will fit it,” Rennie said. “The good thing is his versatility. We’re pleased to have him.”

The Vancouver Whitecaps open their 2012 MLS campaign at home March 10 against the Montreal Impact.

The post Caps add midfield general appeared first on Metro.us.

The addition of Cooper was a bit of a surprise, given that the Red Bulls feature star striker Thierry Henry, had a successful debut season from Luke Rodgers last year and are grooming 18-year old striker and national team player Juan Agudelo.

“We have a situation where we have Juan Agudelo who will play for the Olympic team. He’s going to be playing in qualifiers, he’s going to be away with the first National Team as it looks and also play for the Olympic team. So, he’s going to be away for a long time. We simply need to ensure that we don’t get in a situation where we have injuries and have no one to put up top,” sporting director Erik Soler said. “Kenny Cooper is a player that I tried to move out of the U.S. five years ago, to Rosenborg in Norway, when he went to 1860 Munich. I think he’s a good player that will suit us. He’s big; he’s not really a target man, but he’s good with his feet, he can move around and he can score goals. We scored a lot of goals last year and we’re going to try to score more goals this year.”

Picked to the season ending MLS Best XI in 2008, Cooper is a target forward who brings a 6-foot-3 frame to a Red Bulls team that lacked aerial prowess. The 27-year-old has had two rather unsuccessful stints in Europe and both times came back to MLS and found success. Last year, following a tenure in Germany, he starred for the expansion Portland Timbers where he had eight goals and two assists in 34 games.

Cooper has represented the national team 11 times and is the son of English goalkeeper Kenny Cooper, Sr. who was one of the most successful goalkeepers in North American Soccer League history.

Also on Thursday, the Red Bulls signed Swedish international center back Markus Holgersson, completing a long rumored move. They also selected Fordham goalkeeper Ryan Meara with the No. 31 pick in the draft.

Follow Red Bulls beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

The post Red Bulls make trade for Kenny Cooper appeared first on Metro.us.

The fans sitting in the right field bleachers of Yankees Stadium are notorious for their rhythmic clapping and chanting of players’ names. But there is a huge difference between these Yankees fans and the wall of sound that comprises the South Ward at Red Bull Arena.

Oh, and never, ever call the South Ward fans.

Located behind the south goal at the Red Bulls 25,000-seat stadium in Harrison, N.J., the three sections of seats are never actually sat in. Instead, the Garden State Supporters Club, the Empire Supporters Club and The Viking Army fill these sections every Red Bulls game with the brash, passionate support unique to the New York-area. And they stand all game long, for 90 minutes.

But it is rarely standing still.

Anthony Poulin has served as the co-president of the ESC, the largest of the three supporters clubs in the South Ward and the oldest of the bunch. On gameday he is usually hoarse somewhere around halftime. A mild-mannered attorney by day, Poulin sheds the shirt and tie and transforms into a scarf-wearing, chanting maniac for 90 minutes.

“What first strikes you is just how much fun it is, and how different it is than being at most other sporting events,” Poulin said. “It’s not watching the game and cheering — it’s also a feeling of actually being a part of the game itself, like somehow your songs and enthusiasm is an invisible force helping the team guide the ball to the back of the net.”

The South Ward is filled with flagpoles on gameday and every inch of the concrete walls in front of the three sections are covered with banners. Perches stand in front of each section, where coordinated commands come from the “capos” who belt out the songs to the thousand fans before them. Streamers roll-out and controlled smoke bombs, released by specially designated fans, billow after Red Bulls goals.

This Thursday night, in a game that could send the Red Bulls into the playoffs with a win over rival Philadelphia, the South Ward will be sold out and in full voice. They will coordinate a march into Red Bull Arena, lighting flares and singing for the 10-minute walk. Lawyers and paralegals, media buyers and doctors, construction workers and a fashion model, all become one on game night.

It is organic, it is spontaneous and it has nothing to do with being a fan. It is a crazy, passionate love that gives the Red Bulls one of the most unique home atmospheres in MLS. Other support groups may be larger, but the South Ward, led by the ESC in the center of section 101, is probably the most innovative. Watch any soccer game in Major League Soccer’s other markets and you will hear a song or chant that originated from the South Ward.

“We have members from all over the world and walks of life and that is a big influence of our style,” said Hope McCarty, a native of Elmwood Park, N.J. and a member of the Garden State Supporters and the Viking Army. “This is a universal sport and to me, we all speak the same langue.”

Last summer, the Red Bulls hosted the Barclays New York Challenge, a tournament featuring several top European clubs. Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp praised the South Ward after one of the matches for their enthusiasm and support, something he wasn’t expecting from a country that supposedly hasn’t embraced soccer. And the Red Bulls’ own have taken to the South Ward, applauding the home support after every win, loss and tie. The team’s newly-minted President of Business Operations, Chris Heck, made his first priority this past July to meet with the leaders of the South Ward.

Such is the power of their tireless voices.

“It’s absolutely tremendous, I’ve never seen anything like it. I wasn’t expecting this,” said Red Bulls forward Luke Rodgers.

The English forward is in his first season in MLS.

“They are loud, they are really into it. The support is great. I’ve never played before anything like it.”

Follow Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer for in-depth news on the Red Bulls.

The post Red Bulls: South Ward brings the noise appeared first on Metro.us.

Following comments made after last Wednesday’s 3-1 loss to Real Salt Lake where the Red Bulls defender slammed his teammates for not being at his “level,” Marquez was suspended for the club’s next match on Saturday night.

And without Marquez, one of the team’s three designated players and the second-highest salary on the team, the Red Bulls defense went out and pitched a 2-0 shutout. It was a vital win for New York’s playoff hopes and it proved a point — this team doesn’t need Marquez to win.

There is no denying the pedigree of Marquez. Marquez, captain of the Mexican national team with 108 appearances for El Tri, was a regular for famed club Barcelona, one of the biggest sides in the world. Marquez signed last August with the promise of bringing distribution and vision to the midfield, but his lack of speed and mobility saw a tactical shift to the backline this year, where he excelled with Barcelona.

And the results have been disappointing.

Marquez has missed half the season due to injury or national team call-ups and now, most recently, being suspended by the team over his disparaging remarks. He answered criticism Sunday on Univision’s Republica Deportiva, saying he was misquoted. But the stats behind Marquez’s play can’t be taken out of context.

Marquez has just 1,350 minutes of play this season with no goals and just four assists. He has a lowly three shots on goal and was so bad on corner kicks that he was pulled from that duty in May, a slap in the face to someone hailed as a free kick specialist. Perhaps most telling, the Red Bulls hadn’t won with him in the lineup since Apr. 30.

There is no marked difference defensively with Marquez in the lineup. Having played half the team’s games this season, he’s been in the lineup for half the team’s eight shutouts, a tally proportionate to his time on the field. The fact that there is no difference between a defense with Marquez or without him draws serious question marks about the impact of such a high-profile player.

The Red Bulls, winners of two of their last three games, have used journeyman Stephen Keel in central defense in place of Marquez in both their wins. Keel, who last played for the then second division Portland Timbers in 2010, has won praise from the coaching staff and his teammates for his simple and direct style of play.

It’s a style which fits perfectly in the sometimes rough and tumble MLS.

But as talented as Marquez can be, can he justify his $4 million dollar a year salary? All indicators so far are a clear and decisive “no.” Simply, Marquez may not be cut out for MLS, or MLS may not be cut out for him. While he complains of the level of his teammates, the truth remains that while he technically may be the best player on the Red Bulls, he isn’t a good fit here.

The time might be coming to end the relationship with Marquez. He never materialized into the draw that team management planned, with visions of green Mexican jerseys and sombreros filling the rafters at Red Bull Arena. His midweek comments might show that his heart and head are elsewhere, and it might be time at season’s end to make sure his feet are elsewhere as well and to bid him adios.

Follow Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

The post Rafa Marquez: Red Bulls gamble not working appeared first on Metro.us.

“In this league, he’s a respected person,” Rodgers said, “but … the kid’s a d—head.”

Rodgers’ rant follows New York’s 1-1 draw with Los Angeles on Saturday when Donovan constantly complained about what he perceived as rough, physical play from the visitors. Rodgers didn’t back down then, responding with a hand-talking motion on the field, and certainly didn’t back down yesterday.

“He is telling linemen off, shouting at referees. Is it one rule for him and one rule for the rest of us?” Rodgers asked. “He needs to be a bit more humble. He just talks too much.”

Rodgers also took exception to Donovan dropping the f-bomb in the direction of forward Thierry Henry moments after he gave the Red Bulls the lead in the fourth minute. Rodgers searched for words to describe his frustration, then just plain described Donovan as a “prick.”

The outburst is nothing new for the Englishman, who last played for League Two club Notts County. He’s been extremely candid and open about his colorful past, which includes an arrest for allegedly assaulting a competitor in a parking lot. Still, his name didn’t ring a bell with Donovan, who fired back via Twitter.

“I’m confused; who is Luke Rogers?” Donovan tweeted.

After yesterday’s tell-it-like-it-is comments, MLS fans certainly know who Luke Rodgers is. And truthfully, he might be just what the league needs.

The guy is a character in a sport that needs more leading roles.

His sentiments are quietly thought in the league but certainly never said. Donovan is the golden boy of the soccer movement in this country and a hero of the national team; criticizing him is rarely done by the media, fans and certainly never by fellow players. But Rodgers wasn’t afraid to back away from his comments or their tone.

And for a player who sports an audaciously jeweled ring on his right hand that looks like it had just been Bedazzled, Rodgers’ swagger is something MLS sorely needs.

In the league’s early days, there were showmen and theatrics, a certain air as MLS created heroes and villains. But as the league developed into a respected playing standard and quality players began to develop within the country while enticing talent from overseas, MLS got a bit sterile.

But now, a presence like Rodgers is perhaps as important to MLS as a David Beckham or an Henry. He’s a fiery sort, unafraid to speak his mind and he stands by his comments and his aggressive style.

Even at 5-foot-7 with a bald head  that looks to be built for a scrap, Rodgers resembles an NFL cornerback with his pipes for biceps. Above his locker at the team’s training facility at Montclair State University is a bobblehead of the Austin Powers’ character “Mini Me,” an obvious dig at his lack of stature. But he looks and acts more like a miniature version of Vin Diesel, and what’s not to like about that? Certainly the Red Bulls liked what they saw of the player enough to jump through some hoops to get him this winter.

Rodgers was almost a singular obsession with head coach Hans Backe for the better part of a year. Backe, a Swedish coach now in his second year with the Red Bulls, had targeted Rodgers last spring but the player’s past incidents with the law precluded him from getting his working papers to enter the United States. Rodgers only had limited experience at the Championship level in England, one level below the Premier League, and spent the majority of his career in the lower divisions of English soccer.

In fact, he was a virtual unknown to most.

Fans weren’t too eager that Backe brought Rodgers into the team, even if he had coached the player before. And Rodgers early success in MLS, including a two-goal game three weeks ago where he also had an assist, only seemed to draw questions to MLS of how good of a league this really is.

But Rodgers’ style and his desire to keep the ball on the ground fits better with the style of MLS than the physical rigors of the lower divisions of England. At Notts County, Rodgers had to play and assimilate into a style that relied on long and direct player. In New York, he gets the ball at his feet a lot more and he’s thriving.

And now his passionate and fiery rhetoric is making him a fan favorite as well.

The post Red Bulls’ Rodgers: Landon Donovan is a ‘prick’ appeared first on Metro.us.