Manchester City made a surprise signing on transfer deadline day when they completed the signing of midfielder Yangel Clemente Herrera Ravelo from Atletico Venezuela. The 19-year-old defensive midfielder slipped under the radar of many and he was immediately sent out on loan to New York City.

Herrera is currently starring for Venezuela in the South American Youth Football Championship and has impressed with Atletico Venezuela over the past 12 months. City acted fast to secure his services as other European clubs had been monitoring his progress.

The midfielder is highly rated in Venezuela and has already made one appearance for the national team, coming on as a late substitute in the 2-0 defeat to Brazil. He was also part of Venezuela’s Copa Centenario squad last summer, but didn’t feature at the tournament.

Even though he is a defensive midfielder, Herrera can double as a centre-half. The teenager is two-footed and is an excellent passer of the ball. He also has a sound defensive mind, reads the game well and loves to close down his opponents. Given City’s vulnerabilities at the back this season, it makes sense why the club have signed the teenager.

Even though he was an important player for Atletico Venezuela, it is a big step-up from a sub-par-league to one of Europe’s top leagues. Especially if you also take into consideration that he is only 19-years-old and still an unpolished diamond. This will explain why he has been immediately sent out on loan to New York City.

During his time in the MLS he will be able to hone his talents under the guidance of Patrick Vieira. If there is anyone who will be able to get him ready for the high-demands of being a Premier League midfielder, then the three times league winner is the right man.

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It is hard to tell if attitudes towards soccer are changing or not. The game, obviously known more widely as football, has been the subject of ridicule and dismissal both in and out of America for a number of years. On the surface, it may look like that it hasn’t developed in any way at all, but taking a closer look will show just how much it has progressed, in every sense, over recent years.

At grassroots level, in schools and colleges, soccer is generally dwarfed by the likes of basketball and American football amongst males. Females tend to turn to soccer, so it is no surprise that the Women’s National Team have excelled in tournaments, cementing themselves as the best team in the world on a regular basis. The United States, though, has a special fascination with the concept of fame, and as football has become a centrepiece in wider society, naturally it has become more popular overall. More factors must be taken into consideration, too, and while America still enjoys more success in other sports, the aim is certainly to close the gap.

What could be called a new wave of interest can probably be traced back to 2007, when Major League Soccer, the nation’s primary division which was at the time only in its 14th year of existence, made a major breakthrough. David Beckham’s switch to LA Galaxy from Real Madrid, aged just 32, was met with scepticism from the masses.

Having lost the England captaincy a year prior, he was accused of giving up on his career, chasing a huge paycheque and settling for an early retirement. His outgoing boss at the Santiago Bernabeu, Fabio Capello, didn’t hide his disapproval after the move became apparent midway through the previous campaign and he ostracised Beckham from his squad. Nothing but hard work was ever on the winger’s mind, though, and he battled his way back into Capello’s plans. Los Blancos went on to win a 30th LaLiga title, toppling Barcelona in remarkable circumstances.

Fresh from proving doubters wrong in Spain, Beckham headed Stateside. Arguably the world’s most well known sportsman, for exploits on and off the pitch, he fitted the bill as the new face of soccer, the man to reinvigorate the sport. That, more than anything else, was his aim.

There were ups and downs during his stint, which ended six months prior to his retirement in 2013, but there is little doubt he succeeded with his plan to popularise the game. Aside from returning to Europe with AC Milan and later Paris Saint-Germain, Beckham was fully committed to the project. Soccer has continued to grow, too, and it runs deeper than just MLS, with more franchises being founded. It was always Beckham’s long-term goal to own a club himself.

The United States’ run to the last 16 of the 2014 World Cup served as proof that more talented American players have emerged. Other big name stars from abroad have found MLS an interesting proposition, following in Beckham’s footsteps. Didier Drogba is playing for Montreal Impact, while Kaka, David Villa and Andrea Pirlo spearhead the most recent additions to the league, Orlando City SC and New York City FC, respectively.

With almost every star who has crossed the Atlantic past their peak years and over the age of 30, it would be easy to return to the early retirement argument, but it is all about having the right attitude. Lesser-known players who are talented in their own right, such as Italian Sebastian Giovinco and former Barcelona youth product Giovani Dos Santos, are thriving.

Beckham’s former England teammates, Chelsea legend Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, Liverpool’s homegrown hero, were let go by New York City and LA Galaxy recently, having failed to live up to the expectations their legendary status promised. Robbie Keane, who has also left Los Angeles, didn’t enjoy the same recognition, but arguably faired better overall.

It wasn’t that either Gerrard, who has now retired from the game, or Lampard performed particularly badly, with the latter maintaining a typically impressive goalscoring record of 15 in 29 games. But they fell down by failing to make a connection with the fans similar to Beckham, while the likes of Kaka and Villa appear to have embraced the whole experience better. Lampard’s decision to extend a loan spell with Manchester City, New York’s sister club, meaning he had to wait a year after signing in 2014 to make his debut, showed immediately where his heart lay, while injuries took their toll as age caught up with him.

Gerrard, too, never looked truly comfortable with his new life. After leaving Anfield in 2015, he constantly put limitations on his time in Hollywood, refusing to commit beyond his contract. Although there can be no question the 36-year-old put everything into his MLS career, he didn’t go into it with the same level of enthusiasm as Beckham.

Whether either player would have stayed if offered new terms is up for debate, but neither of their clubs were particularly keen to retain them. Their legacies at Chelsea and Liverpool gave them a reputation that bordered on royalty, and to some casual onlookers, that may have been enough to succeed. Years ago, the likes of George Best, Pele and Johan Cruyff made the best of their latter years in America, but the game has moved on since.

Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard are undoubtedly footballing greats, but their failure to appreciate and understand the requirements of Major League Soccer cost them dear. David Beckham started the ball rolling for this modern era, but he also set the bar for success. Soccer is growing in the United States, it is no longer a place to sunbathe and people need to realise that.

About the author – Harry De Cosemo

Harry is a European football writer specialising in English, Spanish and Italian football. He has worded for a number of publications including MARCA in English, uMAXit football, FourFourTwo and The Press Association.

twitter: @harrydecosemo

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We are happy to announce that version 2.07 is now available on Soccer Manager 2016 and its coincided with the start of the new seasons in both Major League Soccer and the Chinese Super League.

The Chinese Super League made the footballing world stand up and take notice with their transfer activity this year. When their transfer window closed at the end of February, their total spending broke the £200M barrier and surpassed the £172.65M that Premier League sides spent during January. Their league now boasts the likes of Ramires, Jackson Martínez, Alex Teixeira, Gervinho, Freddy Guarín and Ezequiel Lavezzi. The Chinese Super League is now intriguing and will only continue to grow in stature.

You can argue that the MLS has as many household names as the league boasts the likes of Robbie Keane, Kaká, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Andrea Pirlo, David Villa, Sebastian Giovinco and Giovani dos Santos. These foreign stars are complimented nicely by American internationals  such as Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley.

The database on Soccer Manager is powered by Soccer Wiki, a community driven database. The new seasons have just started in China and the USA and all of their leagues have been updated to include the most recent transfers. So why don’t you head over to Soccer Manager 2016 and start a new career managing in either China or the USA?

Version 2.07 also contains improvements to the 2D matchday experience as well as the following bug fixes:

  • Can now sort squad by value;
  • Can now progress beyond 31 December 2027;
  • Goalkeepers are now longer automatically picked as an outfield player;
  • Club attendances are now in-line with the data on Soccer Wiki;
  • Players can no longer be sent off twice in the same game;
  • Sound introduced to the game on Steam;
  • Relegation places now show on league tables;
  • Cup games are no longer scheduled before cup draw;
  • More realistic continental competitions.

We will continue to make improvements to the game based on our communities feedback, so please keep your ideas coming and in the coming days we will announce what we’re working on for version 2.08.

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As the dominant talk in global football centres around whether Real Madrid and Manchester City can wrestle back their respective titles in 2016, across the Atlantic fans are pondering whether their team will ever lift a domestic title. Welcome to the world of Red Bull – New York, that is.

The continually elusive Major League Soccer triumph is one of football’s lesser heard yet most intriguing tales. For here we have a club, one of MLS’s most powerful and prestigious, with a rich and talent-filled history that should in theory be challenging for the championship on a regular basis. From the early days of Empire Soccer Club and MetroStars, a curtain of deceitful flattery has fallen over this iconic club.

A year shy of its 20th anniversary, Major League Soccer has grown into a truly global brand, represented by franchised clubs across the nation with fanatical fans, gifted squads and promising youth development programs. For Red Bull, the mystery started in 1996 at the Supplemental Draft and has continued ever since.

Heading into the inaugural season, the club signed US legends including Tab Ramos, Tony Meola and Peter Vermes. Roberto Donadoni, still one of Europe’s most influential midfielders, joined from AC Milan, and Eddie Firmani of New York Cosmos fame signed up as coach.

Indeed, it was all shaping up nicely until two Brazilians, Juninho and Tulio, signed to great anticipation, were waived ahead of the new season. While the true identity of Tulio remains a mystery – many believe he too was called Juninho – the other Juninho was one of the Premier League’s brightest stars. His performances for Middlesbrough have entered English football folklore.

The bizarre, often ridiculed, nature of their drafting then release cast a dark a shadow over the club; it’s a shadow that bares striking similarities to the one looming over the club today.

The debut MLS season was expected to be a walkover for the MetroStars as their star-studded line up took to the field for their first match against New England Revolution. Ninety minutes of dominance and smart possession football counted for little as former Juventus defender Nicola Caricola’s own goal left 46,000 fans speechless and set the tone for a disappointing season ahead.

In many ways it’s a season that set the precursor for modern ones. Juan Pablo Angel and Thierry Henry were set to finally end the drought when they came together in 2010. They failed, and Angel moved on after six months. In 2013, under the guidance of Red Bull cult hero Mike Petke, the club failed again, despite recruiting Juninho Pernambucano, Peguy Luyindula, Tim Cahill and Fabian Espindola. Many call the clubs inability to lift the MLS Cup the ‘Curse of Tulio’. They jest, of course, but there’s a telling trend that started during that fateful draft in 1996.

Back to ’96, and with the club floundering, Firmani was replaced by Carlos Queiroz. The man who would later go on to manage Real Madrid and Portugal fared little better, recording 12 wins and losses as they finally saw their title tilt end at the hands of D.C. United in the playoffs.  

Again, in many ways, the fundamental issues that plagued the MetroStars at the inception of MLS are still evident today. For starters, nobody is ever sure about the coach. Juan Carlos Osorio – the new Mexico manager – was labelled “aloof” in the media only a season after guiding the club to their best finish (runners up in 2008). Hans Backe, for all his good work on and off the pitch, was discarded after failing to bring the title to New Jersey. Mike Petke, perhaps the franchise’s most revered player, was building well, but deemed “weak” in the changing room. You get the feeling that the job is a poisoned chalice.

Then you have the star names that have failed to live up to expectations. Brazil great Branco only lasted 11 games after joining in 1997. The list of big-name players is a who’s who of world football: Youri Djorkaeff, Rafael Marquez, Michael Bradley, Lothar Matthaus, Tim Howard, Alexi Lalas, Claudio Reyna, Clint Mathis, Teemu Tainio, Albert Celades, Jozy Altidore, Juan Agudelo and of course, Angel, Cahill and Henry.

It’s not like the club hasn’t ever had the requisite infrastructure either. Giants Stadium, home to the franchise throughout much of their tumultuous journey, was one of world sports most recognisable arenas. Since 2010, Red Bull Arena has been home to the club and sits proudly as MLS’s best football-specific stadium. It’s testament to the work of Red Bull off the field that such advancements have been made.

The question that leaves is what does the future hold? It’s the same come March every year as people wildly predict that this will finally be the Red Bulls’ year.

Looking ahead, the new training facility in East Hanover has the potential to change things. Training at Montclair State University did the team no favours with the changing rooms located a considerable walk away from the pitch and the standard of facilities poor. The new training ground, complete with state-of-the-art modern aids, has the potential to develop better home-grown talent in addition to supporting the needs of the first team. Results will take time but it’s a positive step for the club.

And it will need to be. With the formation of New York City FC, a genuine rival has emerged in the Big Apple. Crucially, the new franchise will also be based within the city. It points to a smaller Red Bull fan base. After all, the club is based in New Jersey, not New York. Though Red Bull Arena is a short commute from Lower Manhattan, many fans travel from the Bronx, where NYCFC play.

The battle between the established might of Red Bull and the Manchester City-owned dollars of NYCFC is a mouth-watering prospect. The rivalry has the potential to be as fierce as the Cascadia battles between Seattle, Portland and Vancouver. For anyone that’s ever been to a Seattle versus Portland game – and I consider myself a lucky man – it’s one of the football’s most intense, passionate and meaningful derbies. MLS will only be stronger for an equivalent rivalry on the east coast.

But will Red Bull be stronger for it? Perhaps. This may be the kick-start that the club needs to reverse its fortunes and plan big again. There is talk of big names coming in 2016, but the same applies to their rivals from the city.

It remains to be seen if the big names are what the club needs. Maybe the solution for Red Bull is to stride away from their mini Galactico policy and follow the lead of Real Salt Lake in 2009, Colorado in 2010 and Sporting Kansas in 2013, who blended youth, talent and grit to claim their triumphs. LA Galaxy did much the same in 2014.

For the time being, the Curse of Tulio lives on and shows no signs of abating. Whether the Red Bulls can finally secure an MLS Cup triumph before their rabid neighbours remains a mystery. It’s something that may greatly affect their ability to retain supporters and prove that they are the true kings of New York in the long term.

The club is fast approaching a crossroads in its existence. Red Bull as a sporting organization are winners; they believe in success and being the very best. The franchise, at the moment, is far from that. Is there a chance that the drinks giant may pull the plug? It’s probably too early to tell but there will doubtless be serious discussions if NYCFC outperform the club over the coming 18 months.

Either way, the story of Red Bull is both intriguing and frustrating in equal measure. It’s a case of history repeating itself over and over again; the same mistakes through the same philosophy. For all the progress off the field, the time has surely come for a change of direction on it. Rebuilding starts with the bottom up, and the long-standing, high-profile recruitment policy has let the club down on countless occasions.

For the sake of the fans, the time has come for the club to stand up and take charge of their sub-standard record.

About the author – Omar Saleen

Based in London, Omar is the editor-in-chief at These Football Times. A professional coach by day having worked at clubs including Fulham, QPR and Red Bull New York, he also writes freelance for a number of outlets.

twitter: @omar_saleem

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Ben-Jarman-MLS

A banner unfolds in the Red Bull Arena as the 3rd New York derby gets underway. ‘City Retirement Home’ it reads with two caricatures adorning the fabric. One is Frank Lampard, the other is new recruit Andrea Pirlo who start for expansion team New York City FC. Whilst it produces a good chuckle, it’s easy to get sucked into the ‘retirment home’ stereotype. Over the years many older statesmen have graced the pitches of Los Angeles and New York, but over the summer the league as a whole has taken significant steps to prove that it isn’t just a place for the rich and famous to retire.

Whilst clubs in America continue to attract older players later in their career, this summer has seen those clubs attract a calibre of player which supersedes the original class of designated players. New York City, Los Angeles Galaxy and now the Montreal Impact have taken it upon themselves to progress the league by securing deals for players in Europe who could have continued to play at the highest level. Andrea Pirlo could have continued with the Old Lady of Turin, Didier Droga had offers from across Europe and Steven Gerrard will be greatly missed at Liverpool.

However, the deal which has really demonstrated the ambition Major League Soccer has is that of Giovani Dos Santos to LA Galaxy. At 26 years old, Dos Santos is in his prime and is coming off the back a fantastic scoring season with Spanish side Villarreal. Dos Santos plays a key role for Mexico and starred in their exciting World Cup campaign in 2014, whilst also pushing them to a Gold Cup victory against Jamaica this summer. The Galaxy has granted Dos Santos a 5-year deal, which certainly demonstrates that they are using him to build a team capable of winning not only MLS titles, but also CONCACAF Champions League honours – a cup which has traditionally been dominated by Mexican sides.Whilst Dos Santos is set to earn €6m a year with the Galaxy money may have been an attraction, but the ambition of the league will have been a huge factor in his decision to leave Europe.

As the Premier League continue to establish themselves in their biggest market places across Asia, MLS is finally starting to establish themselves outside of the US and Canada. Major League Soccer has used the Premier League as a blueprint for their league expansion in recent years, and the transfer of Dos Santos finally gives recognition to the Mexican market. Mexican-Americans and Mexicans outnumber American and Candian watchers of the MLS by 3 to 1. The Gold Cup is held on US soil every year due to the huge footballing audience that reside there. The signing of Dos Santos ensures that Major League Soccer and the Los Angeles Galaxy have even more exposure abroad as well as at home. The move is fantastic financially, allowing the whole league to tap into the biggest market and generating extra income from television rights and shirt sales from across the boarder.

Finally, on the pitch the recall of Kaka to the Brazilian national team for the matches against Costa Rica and the United States this year signals that teams at international level are finally giving the league the plaudits it deserves. Kaka has been the main driving force of Orlando City this year as their Captain and designated player. Unlike David Beckham before him, he has managed to force himself back into recognition, with coach Dunga even stating that he wanted to build around the 33 year old. Kaka is not the only player from MLS who is a mainstay for his national side as Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley have demonstrated over the past 18 months with the United States.

Major League Soccer is expanding rapidly, and in the near future academy products from across the league will start to make their mark on matches. Dos Santos won’t be the last young player to leave Europe for America because the league means business and deserves all the plaudits it has won so far.

About the Author – Ben Jarman

Freelance football writer with a penchant for Spanish and European football. Work published by Fulham FC, Italian FA and the Evening Standard.

Twitter: @sonikkicks

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