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**MLS 2021, CONCACAF Champions League, US Open Cup, etc.: Marion, IA native/Drake alum is MLSter Irrelevant of 2021 Draft**

Fantastic! That is a huge win for soccer in the state of Iowa!
Ian Christianson never ended up dressing for Cedar Rapids Kennedy before going the MLS Academy route and playing with NY Red Bulls for a couple years. Iowa City West got an MLS debutant last year with Kyle Zobeck of FC Dallas. Now Linn-Mar had their soccer claim-to-fame. Seems the ICR Corridor is starting to produce pros. Other Mississippi Valley schools, you’re on the clock.
 
Ian Christianson never ended up dressing for Cedar Rapids Kennedy before going the MLS Academy route and playing with NY Red Bulls for a couple years. Iowa City West got an MLS debutant last year with Kyle Zobeck of FC Dallas. Now Linn-Mar had their soccer claim-to-fame. Seems the ICR Corridor is starting to produce pros. Other Mississippi Valley schools, you’re on the clock.

Yep, I was coaching at West (girls program though) when Zobeck was there.

It's seriously great.
 
Ian Christianson never ended up dressing for Cedar Rapids Kennedy before going the MLS Academy route and playing with NY Red Bulls for a couple years. Iowa City West got an MLS debutant last year with Kyle Zobeck of FC Dallas. Now Linn-Mar had their soccer claim-to-fame. Seems the ICR Corridor is starting to produce pros. Other Mississippi Valley schools, you’re on the clock.

Seems like Waterloo West should have at least one kid of Bosnian immigrants who made it to MLS by now. Has that yet to happen?
 
Yep, I was coaching at West (girls program though) when Zobeck was there.

It's seriously great.
I forgot Keaton Woods of Cedar Rapids Washington, who just graduated from the Real Salt Lake MLS Academy team and had been getting time with their USL team last year. He’ll be one to watch.
Seems like Waterloo West should have at least one kid of Bosnian immigrants who made it to MLS by now. Has that yet to happen?
Closest to that is Kenan Malicevic of Cedar Valley Christian HS, who led Drake to the NCAA College Cup Elite 8 (scoring against UNC in a 2-1 loss), played pro back in Serbia, then came back to play in the MASL with Cedar Rapids Rampage, started the minor league Cedar Rapids Inferno, and is now the head coach of Linn-Mar HS.
 
Seems like Waterloo West should have at least one kid of Bosnian immigrants who made it to MLS by now. Has that yet to happen?

There was a guy who played for the Fire that I thought was in Waterloo at one point. I don't know... that was our rival for high school so I can't really give them credit.
 
There was a guy who played for the Fire that I thought was in Waterloo at one point. I don't know... that was our rival for high school so I can't really give them credit.
East or CF? I was almost a CF Tiger.
Are you thinking of Elvir Ibisevic, who ended up going to Johnston HS, Kansas City Sporting Academy, Des Moines Menace, and even the Bosnian National team, before his career stalled in Germany and he came back to play for Union Omaha of USL last season?
How is this a real person?

It’s been fun watching him go viral.








 
I’m surprised the MLS is able to have a draft. I assume it’s not like BB & FB drafts as it’s not the cream of the crop, but players that don’t have other options at this point of their careers. Forgive my ignorance on the matter if I’m off base as I don’t know about MLS draft, just guessing. Good for the kid from the CR area. I’ll certainly keep an eye on him.
 
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Can’t remember if he’s Linn-Mar or Marion, but a HS freshman Goalkeeper went down to Sporting KC Academy this year.
 
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Can’t remember if he’s Linn-Mar or Marion, but a HS freshman Goalkeeper went down to Sporting KC Academy this year.

Sort of. I’m not sure what’s going on, but he’s playing Iowa ODP right now. I would have thought it’s year-round, but he’s not there now.
 
I’m surprised the MLS is able to have a draft. I assume it’s not like BB & FB drafts as it’s not the cream of the crop, but players that don’t have other options at this point of their careers. Forgive my ignorance on the matter if I’m off base as I don’t know about MLS draft, just guessing. Good for the kid from the CR area. I’ll certainly keep an eye on him.
The pool has been diluted a bit, but you still get plenty of talent that ends up in NCAA Soccer. Jack Harrison is starting (and scoring goals) for Leeds United in the English Premier League. Chris Mueller of Des Moines Menace and the University of Wisconsin is now getting time with the USMNT. Hassani Dotson was a second round guy who is a budding star with Minnesota United FC and the USA U-23s. Andre Shinyashiki of Des Moines Menace and Denver U was MLS ROTY two years ago. Daryl Dike went last year and is already playing with the USMNT and probably headed to a major European team soon. Many more guys drafted getting significant minutes as rookies. The talent is out there.
 
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Looks like odds are good that at least one more American will be in the Premier League next season. Both of the top two Championship sides are bringing in American forwards (Salt Lake and Sounders products respectively)...




How do you feel about this Morris loan to Swans, @Hawkfan_08?
 
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Looks like odds are good that at least one more American will be in the Premier League next season. Both of the top two Championship sides are bringing in American forwards (Salt Lake and Sounders products respectively)...




How do you feel about this Morris loan to Swans, @Hawkfan_08?

I'm already really in a bad mood after the piss poor Iowa game among other things. If Morris wants to go to Europe, why Swansea?

Edit- still pissed so I'm trying to read more on this. It would be a loan to push for Swansea to move up to the Premier League and then back to Seattle, correct? I don't care if Morris wants to play overseas. He just better actually play.

Edit- I'd also love to see Soto get time with Norwich. I just don't want our dudes sitting on the bench.
 
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I'm already really in a bad mood after the piss poor Iowa game among other things. If Morris wants to go to Europe, why Swansea?

Edit- still pissed so I'm trying to read more on this. It would be a loan to push for Swansea to move up to the Premier League and then back to Seattle, correct? I don't care if Morris wants to play overseas. He just better actually play.

Edit- I'd also love to see Soto get time with Norwich. I just don't want our dudes sitting on the bench.
Actually, it’s an option to buy his contract off if they make the Premier League. He could potentially have played his last match for the Sounders.


Also, Champions League will kick off two months later than usual:
 
Looks like the entire season is shifting later by a couple weeks. Sticking with that mid-December finale like last season’s delay gave us. Glad opening day has shifted to April. Mid-March was too damn cold in Chicago, Minnesota, Toronto, Colorado, etc.
 
The ease at which Tigres has been coasting through the Club World Cup, looking destined for the final now by dominating Palmeiras on FS2, makes a good argument for CONCACAF Champions League being the second best continental club competition in the world. Especially when they had to fight tooth and nail to come back and hold on to beat LAFC.

And CONCACAF is treating it as such...
 
Cool part of NCAA Soccer in the Spring is that you’ve got Seniors who have been drafted and will be jumping into training camp as soon as their college season is finished. Leroy Enzugusi has been on fire for Drake after being drafted by Nashville SC. Two game winners in a row for the Bulldogs...


 
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CONCACAF Champions League is back TONIGHT. Every match on FS1, so a triple-header tonight and tomorrow with a doubleheader on Thursday. Atlanta United have their hands full...



 
Congrats, Atlanta United fans. The lowest MLS seed rather easily disposes of the best non-MLS/MX team in a rather hot team, 2-0. Here’s the rest of the games for tonight and the rest of the week on FS1 and FS2...

 
Shocker, Chicago Fire expected to suck once again

I take those with a grain of salt, but I've become as pessimistic as you after watching them collapse in those last three games last season when all they needed was basically two points. At least they addressed the most pressing needs on defense. Calvo should stay in the defensive mid role he played some this preseason. He's a huge liability as a center-back.

But hey, at least they are scrapping the new logo. Baby steps.
 
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Seattle vs Minnesota at 8:30 PM Central tonight on FS1 to get the season underway.

San Diego Sockers at Ontario Fury kick off an all So Cal final in indoor too at 9:30 PM Central, on Next Level Sports and on Facebook Live nationally. Current Iowa Raptors outdoor player and now GM, Gordy Gurson, is a star on the indoor scene playing for San Diego...


 
Another beauty in MLS tonight
My word were there a lot of great goals opening weekend! I get Dempsey vs Juventus vibes from that one. Leal can create magic.

Loved the Fire’s new attackers last night. Stojanovic and Offor gelled together wonderfully with the others and put together some sublime team goals...then our defense “showed up”. Should have sold Calvo and brought in cheap but good young Americans.
 
Wow, TWO MLS games on network television this weekend, including Chicharito vs Vela in El Trafico on Saturday night FOX prime time (which I believe is a first for a regular season game) and the Sounders-Timbers Derby on ABC on Sunday afternoon:



 
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