This week’s edition of Morning Clippings features Brek Shea and Zach Loyd being heralded as the best in the league at their respective positions, FC Dallas getting ahead of the curve in offseason action and the retirement of George John’s jersey number.
Read the last edition of Morning Clippings.
Thursday, December 8: Shea stand above left-sided midfielders (SoccerAmerica.com)
In their year-end positional rankings, Soccer America called Brek Shea the best left midfielder in Major League Soccer in 2011. Ridge Mahoney cites Shea’s rise with the USMNT, the attention he garnered from foreign teams, and his slashing runs and service as reasons the young Texan was the best at his position in his fourth year as a professional.
Read the SoccerAmerica.com article.
Sunday, December 11: An offseason abroad: Brek Shea at Arsenal (USsoccer.com)
USMNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has encouraged American MLS players to train abroad in the offseason in order to maintain fitness into the new year. Several players heeded the advice and USsoccer.com has interviewed some of the players to get their thoughts on the experiences. In the site’s third installment of An offseason abroad, Brek Shea talks about his experience training with Arsenal and what the young winger took away from his time in London.
Read the USsoccer.com article.
Monday, December 12: Still early days in MLS offseason (SI.com)
With the start of preseason less than a month away, SportsIllustrated.com’s Steve Davis takes a moment to reflect on which MLS teams are making the right moves so far this offseason, and which teams still have a lot of work to do. He places FC Dallas ahead of the curve.
Read the SI.com article.
Thursday, December 15: FC Dallas players on the importance of service (SLANT Newsletter)
In this month’s Service Learning Adventures in North Texas Newsletter, the program spoke to FC Dallas players Bobby Warshaw, Ugo Ihemelu, Daniel Hernandez and Andrew Jacobson on the importance of giving back to the community.
Read the excerpt from the SLANT Newsletter here.
Thursday, December 15: Loyd leads wave of young right backs (SoccerAmerica.com)
Zach Loyd became the second FC Dallas player to be tabbed as the best at his position in 2011 last week, when Soccer America called the University of North Carolina product the best right back in MLS. Ridge Mahoney bestowed the honor on Loyd based on his instincts, tackling, and wise decision-making when it comes to getting forward vs. playing it safe.
Read the SoccerAmerica.com article.
*Editor's note: In addition to Loyd and Shea coming in at No. 1 in their respective positional rankings, SoccerAmerica.com also ranked FC Dallas players Jair Benitez, George John and Kevin Hartman among the best in the league at their respective positions.
Read SoccerAmerica.com's Top 10 left backs.
Read SoccerAmerica.com's Top 12 center backs.
Read SoccerAmerica.com's Top 10 goalkeepers.
Friday, December 16: Shorewood High School retires George John’s No. 11 jersey (SeattleTimes.com)
Center back George John recently returned home to the Pacific Northwest to be honored by his former high school. Last Thursday, Shorewood High School retired John’s number 11 jersey at a halftime ceremony of a home basketball game.
Read the SeattleTimes.com article here.
Monday, December 19: A stop and chat with local MLS standout George John (SeattleTimes.com)
Following the jersey retirement, Seattle Times blogger Joshua Mayers sat down with John for a Q&A session, in which John talks about his return to high school, the split of family allegiances between FCD and the Sounders, and the future of his career with both club and country.
