Dein erstes Forum » San Diego needed a true nose tackle and was

At Tuesdays pre-match press conference, Toronto FC Head Coach Ryan Nelsen attempted to explain to the English media the difficulty of having to play a mid-season friendly against Tottenham Hotspur at this particular time of the year. “It would be like us playing a game in the Christmas period when youre third in the league and youve got Man City to play on Saturday,” he said. The timing couldnt be much worse. The Champions – Sporting Kansas City - are due in town on Saturday, as Nelsens team moves through its busiest month of the MLS season with seven league games during the month of July. Hes already without some of his key players through injury, including captain Steven Caldwell and starting right back Mark Bloom. But whatever problems are posed by playing the extra game, I agree with Michael Bradleys assessment of the situation. International friendlies are of benefit to Major League Soccer and the growth of the game in North America. While they are certainly far from ideal, they are here to stay, and they have an important role to play. For a start, Wednesdays game against Tottenham is about much more than welcoming international opposition. This match is part of a four-year marketing and commercial deal struck between the two clubs as part of Jermain Defoes transfer. For both Toronto FC and Spurs, its about the bigger picture. Soccer is a global game, and a big part of achieving success is about building and managing relationships, not just within your own league, but around the world. As Toronto FC – and MLS as a whole – aims to continue its rapid growth, international friendlies are an important piece of the puzzle as they provide an opportunity to get a wider circle of attention both in the local community, across North America, and in other countries as well. From a playing perspective it can also have a positive impact. Its a chance for some of the squad players to get a competitive game, and for some of the clubs youngsters to test themselves against a standard of opposition they wouldnt usually face. In 2010 when Toronto FC played Bolton Wanderers at BMO Field, the Man of the Match was a young teenager who hadnt even signed a professional contract at that stage. Doneil Henry has gone on to become a first team regular with the club who has aspirations of playing in Europe. That Bolton match was an early stepping stone for the Canadian international. As he sat alongside Spurs star Christian Eriksen and manager Mauricio Pochettino at BMO Field on Tuesday, Henry said: “This is where I want to be and where I want to play one day. I just want to learn and show what I can do.” So this match is another opportunity for him to prove himself. We likely wont see much of Torontos leading players against Spurs. Ryan Nelsen needs to be cautious, and rightly so. He will give some of his starters 45 minutes, and rest others completely. But for a number of men within his squad this game will provide a chance to shine and it will be interesting to see if they can take it. Tottenham arrived in Toronto on Monday direct from Seattle where they tied the Sounders 3-3 in an entertaining game in the first game of their three-match North American tour. They are without their World Cup players who have been given extra time to rest, and last years leading scorer Emmanuel Adebayor who is recovering in London following a mild bout of malaria. But young Danish star Christian Eriksen is expected to see his first action of preseason as Spurs continue to prepare for the Premier Leagues opening weekend in mid-August. Last year Spurs finished sixth in the English top flight, but are under new management with a new direction after Mauricio Pochettinos arrival from Southampton. Eriksen was pretty blunt when asked what Tottenham will need to improve upon this season, with consistency the theme. “We had some really good games and some really bad games,” he said. “For us its about being more stable and also getting points against the big teams.” Watch Toronto FC vs. Tottenham Hotspur live tonight on TSN at 7pm et/4pm pt. Derek Carr Womens Jersey . FIFA said the suspension was requested by ethics prosecutor Michael Garcia, making Beckenbauer the first person to be punished as a result of the case. Beckenbauer refused "repeated requests for his assistance, including requests that he provide information during an in-person interview or in response to written questions provided in both English and German," FIFA said in a statement. 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The 20-year-old overager has appeared in 35 games for the Ontario Hockey Leagues Erie Otters this season, scoring 41 goals and adding 27 assists with a plus-28 rating.Denver Broncos 1 (31) - Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State; 2 (56) - Cody Latimer, WR, Indiana; 3 (95) - Michael Schofield, OT, Michigan; 5 (156) - Lamin Barrow, OLB. LSU; 6 (207) - Matthew Paradis, OC, Boise State; 7 (242) - Corey Nelson, OLB, Oklahoma Top Picks Analysis: The rich got a little richer as John Elway laced a pair of doubles that could turn out to be much more despite his relatively poor draft positioning. Denver has totally revamped its shaky secondary in the offseason, first adding lockdown corner Aqib Talib and safety T.J. Ward in free agency before drafting talented Ohio State corner Bradley Roby with the 31st overall pick. Roby had top-20 talent but his stock took a hit because he was inconsistent with the Buckeyes and had a high-profile off-the-field incident days before the draft. Lengthy second-round wide receiver Cody Latimer shapes up as the potential replacement for the departed Eric Decker, while third-round offensive tackle Michael Schofield should provide immediate depth and could turn into a starter down the line if he hits the weight room hard. Best Value Pick: Latimer needs to sharpen his route-running skills but he has a chance to do some special things with Peyton Manning throwing the ball to him. "You just need to get in the hip pocket of Peyton Manning," NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said. "What a great situation for this young man. Hes a height/weight specimen. He needs to learn how to run routes and separate from defenders." Questionable Calls: Schofield is probably not athletic enough to play on the edge right now and he lacks the functional football strength to kick inside. There were better options on the board for Elway. Summary: The Broncos helped themselves at two need positions (corner and wide receiver) and generally scored well on the value meter throughout the process. FINAL GRADE: B Undrafted rookie free agent signings: DE Kenny Anunike, Duke; OLB Shaquil Barrett, Colorado State; RB Kapri Bibbs, Colorado State; WR Isaiah Burse, Fresno State; P Steven Clark, Auburn; RB Brennan Clay, Oklahoma; DT Mister Cobble, Michigan State; WR Bennie Fowler, Michigan State; WR Greg Hardin, North Dakota State; DE Greg Latta, Purdue; QB Bryn Renner, North Carolina; OT Aslam Sterling, Kansas; CB Jordan Sullen, Tulane; RB Juwan Thompson, Duke; CB Louis Young, Georgia Tech Kansas City Chiefs 1 (23) - Dee Ford, DE, Auburn; 3 (87) - Phillip Gaines, CB, Rice; 4 (124) - DeAnthony Thomas, RB, Oregon; 5 (163) - Aaron Murray, QB, Georgia; 6 (193) - Zach Fulton, OG, Tennessee; 6 (200) - Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, OT, McGill; Top Picks Analysis: Despite a desperate need for speed at the wide receiver position Kansas City went edge pass rusher at No. 23 overall, taking Auburn defensive end Dee Ford. On paper Ford projects as an outside linebacker in the 3-4 defense the Chiefs play but Kansas City already has a pair of stars at the position -- Tamba Hali and Justin Houston. The Chiefs didnt have a second-round pick and addressed depth at the cornerback position in the third by adding lengthy Rice cornerback Phillip Gaines, who should fit in as an option behind starters Sean Smith and Brandon Flowers, although Flowers is reportedly on the trading block. Best Value Pick: Fourth-round running back DeAnthony Thomas shapes up as a nice replacement for Dexter McCluster, who left for Tennessee in free agency. The 5-foot-9 Thomas could be an explosive third-down back and an excellent return specialist. Questionable Calls: At just 6-foot-2 and 252 pounds there is no way Ford can play the five-technique in the 3-4 so hes going to be stuck behind both Houston, who is signed through next season, and Hali, who is locked up through 2015, for now. A speedy wide receiver would have been more helpful, at least for 2014. Summary: Ford and Gaines probably wont help all that much until a year or two down the line. The Chiefs seemed to do better in the middle rounds where they got their replacement for McCluster in Thomas, and nabbed a solid developmental quarterback prospect in Aaron Murray. FINAL GRADE: B- Undrafted rookie free agent signings: RB Charcandrick West, Abilene Christian; WR Albert Wilson, Georgia State; RB James Baker, Idaho; OL Ben Gottschalk, SMU; DB David Van Dyke, Tennessee State; S Daniel Sorensen, BYU; RB Joey Demartino, Utah State; LB Ben Johnson, Tennessee-Martin; C Cole Pensick, Nebraska; K Cairo Santos, Tulane; WR Darryl Surgent, Louisiana Lafayette; S Kacy Rodgers, Miami; C Vyncent Jones, Utah; QB Jon Jennings, Saginaw Valley State; DT Kona Schhwenke, Notre Dame; G Stetson Burnett, Tulsa; DT Kenneth Carter, Auburn; DE Shawn Shupperd, Eastern Kentucky; CB Tevrin Brandon, Monmouth; OL Will Latu, Abilene Christian; LB Brandon Denmark, Florida A&M Oakland Raiders 1 (5) - Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo; 2 (36) - Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State; 3 (81) - Gabe Jackson, OG, Mississippi State; 4 (107) - Justin Ellis, DT, Louisiana Tech; 4 (116) - Keith McGill, CB, Utah; 7 (219) - Travis Carrie, CB, Ohio; 7 (235) - Shelby Harris, DE, Illinois State; 7 (247) - Jonathan Dowling, SS, Western Kentucky Top Pick Analysis: The Raiders are almost always wild cards when it comes to the NFL Draft but the organization took a far more conventional approach in 2014.dddddddddddd Oakland didnt waver at No. 5 overall when Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack, universally regarded as one of the best four players in the draft, fell to them. The Raiders certainly had bigger needs like quarterback but general manager Reggie McKenzie wasnt spooked by that and stayed true to his board. Oakland was rewarded for its astute work early in the draft when signal caller Derek Carr fell to the second round and was still available at No. 36 overall. "A lot of teams thought he was the best pure thrower in draft," NFL Network Draft analyst Mike Mayock said of Carr. In the third round the Raiders were able to bolster the interior of their offensive line by selecting Mississippi State guard Gabe Jackson, who has a very high football IQ and projects as a starter early in his career. Best Value Pick: Keith McGill, a fourth-round pick out of Utah, is a Brandon Browner-sized cornerback who could excel in press-man coverage, Questionable Calls: There really wasnt much to quibble about in this draft but if you have to take issue with something, look to the seventh round where defensive end Shelby Harris probably wasnt a draftable commodity. Summary: McKenzie seems to be making the most of his third and possibly final chance to turn things around in Oakland. Mack was in the conversation to be the No. 1 overall pick while Carr is a solid developmental prospect at QB and Jackson should be a rather useful addition. DRAFT GRADE: A Undrafted rookie free agent signings: FB Karl Williams, Utah; WR Mike Davis, Texas; TE Scott Simonson, Assumption; RB George Atkinson, Notre Dame; WR D.J. Coles, Virginia Tech; TE Jake Murphy, Utah; OT Danny Kistler, Montana; WR Noel Grigsby, San Jose State LB Carlos Fields, Winston Salem State; DE Austin Flynn, Arkansas; QB Rob Henry, Purdue San Diego Chargers 1 (25) - Jason Verrett, CB, TCU; 2 (50) - Jeremiah Attaochu, OLB, Georgia Tech; 3 (89) Chris Watt, OG, Notre Dame; 5 (165) - Ryan Carrethers, NT, Arkansas State; 6 (201) - Marion Grice, RB, Arizona State; 7 (240) - Tevin Reese, WR, Baylor Top Picks Analysis: The Chargers went into this draft hoping to improve on their 29th-ranked and AFC- worst pass defense. TCU cornerback Jason Verrett is undersized at 5-foot-9 but shapes up as a Captain Munnerlyn-type, a player who battles enough to compete on the outside during early downs before moving into the slot and becoming a difference maker on obvious passing downs. San Diego moved up in the second round to take Georgia Tech outside linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu, a high-motored edge player with significant pass rushing upside. In the third round the Chargers took heady Notre Dame offensive guard Chris Watt, a very experienced college player who is a great technician and should develop into a solid starter. Best Value Pick: San Diego needed a true nose tackle and was able to get one in the fourth round by taking Arkansas States Ryan Carrethers, a 340-pound, NFL-Strong two-down player. Questionable Calls: The Chargers made four really sound picks before reaching a bit in the later rounds. Seventh-round wide receiver Tevin Reese for instance is not really a legitimate NFL prospect. Summary: Chargers general manager Tom Telesco didnt have a ton of picks to work with but he generally made sound, prudent decisions when it was his turn. FINAL GRADE: B Undrafted rookie free agent signings: S Alden Darby, Arizona State; DE Colton Underwood, Illinois State; DT Tenny Palepoi, Utah; DT Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe, Boise State; TE Mike Flacco, New Haven; WR Javontee Herndon, Arkansas; RB D.J. Adams, Portland State; CB Greg Ducre, Washington; WR Brelon Chancellor, North Texas; OT Ian White, Boston College; P Chase Tenpenny, Nevada; OT Jeremiah Sirles, Nebraska; LB Alvin Scioneaux, Wofford; G D.J. Johnson, New Mexico; CB Chris Davis, Auburn; WR Torrence Allen, West Texas A&M; WR Micah Hatfield, Oregon State ' ' '