More from PST What we learned | Premier League transfer news | Latest USMNT news

Football League Championship

Photo by Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images

Derby County captain lost for season, 2 players charged with drunk driving

By Nicholas MendolaSep 26, 2019, 10:06 AM EDT
Leave a comment

Derby County has lost its captain to a knee injury and two players to arrest after drunk driving led to a car accident on Tuesday.

Richard Keogh is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, while Tom Lawrence and Mason Bennett have been charged by police after a two-car accident ended with one vehicle smashing into a pole.

[ MORE: Can Chelsea take advantage of soft schedule? ]

Keogh, Lawrence, and Bennett were among a small group of players to continue drinking after a team-building exercise that evening.

Given the dangers of drunk driving, Derby County is thankful that the damage isn’t much worse. From an official club statement:

We have been very clear about our attitude towards alcohol and the players know that at certain and specific times of the season they are permitted a drink together as a group in a controlled environment.

Those involved in Tuesday’s incident know they will pay a heavy price for their actions, but also that we will support them with their rehabilitation back into the squad and team.

Neither Bennett nor Lawrence were injured, and both will face a court date on Oct. 15.

Derby County sits 18th in the 24-team Championship, seven points off a playoff place after eight of 46 match days.

Lights go out (thrice) as Burton upsets Bournemouth

Photo by Barrington Coombs/PA Images via Getty Images
By Nicholas MendolaSep 25, 2019, 4:20 PM EDT
1 Comment

Burton Albion’s night against Premier League competition was already off to a memorable start thanks to a lead for the hosts.

Then it got a bit wilder.

Oliver Sarkic’s first half goal had the Brewers up 1-0 at the break, but their march toward a memorable “cupset” was slowed soon after halftime.

[ MORE: League Cup wrap | 4th round draw ]

And the delay had nothing to do with the football.

The floodlights went out at Pirelli Stadium.

The club Tweeted that there was an issue with power in the surrounding area, “The system is being allowed to cool down, then rebooted. It’s an issue affecting the town, not just us, but we have some light back…”

They returned to working order for less than a quarter-hour before dipping out again.

The game started and stopped again, and only Burton Albion’s Nathan Broadhead would score before the final whistle to clinch a place in the Last 16.

Leeds, Bielsa win Fair Play honor at FIFA’s The Best awards

Photo by Alex Dodd - CameraSport via Getty Images
By Nicholas MendolaSep 23, 2019, 3:45 PM EDT
Leave a comment

Well this is peak FIFA.

Football’s governing body has just awarded Leeds United and much-admired manager Marcelo Bielsa its FIFA Fair Play award at its 2019 The Best awards ceremony in Milan.

[ MORE: Klopp wins manager award ]

The reason the Whites won the award is understandable, if you just ignore the fact that they were publicly caught cheating months earlier… and that the “fair play” moment came after an extremely questionable play which led to a brawl.

The win comes for Bielsa’s decision in late April, when his player Mateusz Klich scored a goal despite Aston Villa’s Jonathan Kodija being injured on the pitch.

Bielsa instructed his players to allow Villa to tie the match after a post-goal fight saw a red card to Anwar El Ghazi.

Fair play? Sure, and Leeds kissed goodbye its slim hopes of finishing in automatic promotion place in the Championship.

However, Leeds was also caught monitoring Derby County training sessions, leading to Bielsa to admit in January that he had spied “all the rivals” that season.

I mean, who were the other nominees? Jose Callejon and the Turkish player who fouled players with a sharp object during play?

Bielsa admitted this during an extraordinary Powerpoint session for media members in England which showed the maniacal depths of his preparation, which curried a lot of favor with the media and fans.

Yes, even though he admitted Leeds cheated the whole season.

He also said, “I thought I wasn’t violating the norm,” which is ridiculous.

Now of course we should be too pious, either; A whole lot of teams cheat in this way and football is a cutthroat game. Bielsa is a managerial legend and loved by Pep Guardiola, Mauricio Pochettino, and Jorge Sampaoli.

Former Burton Albion player Kelvin Maynard killed in Amsterdam

Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images
Associated PressSep 19, 2019, 10:02 AM EDT
Leave a comment

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) Dutch police say that a man killed in an overnight shooting was former professional soccer player Kelvin Maynard.

Police in Amsterdam confirmed his identity Thursday morning. The 32-year-old Dutchman died Wednesday night after being shot in the city.

Maynard was a defender for teams in the Netherlands and for English team Burton Albion.

[ MORE: Cruz Azul wins League Cup ]

Investigations are continuing into the slaying and police have given no possible motive.

The shooting came the same day as a gunman killed a lawyer for a witness involved in a case linked to a series of underworld murders, sparking widespread outrage in the Netherlands.

Police say they do not believe the two killings are linked, but will consider the possibility during their investigations.

Maynard’s current club, Alphense Boys, expressed sympathy to his family.

Americans Abroad: Championship and 2.Bundesliga primer

Photo by Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images
By Nicholas MendolaAug 2, 2019, 9:19 PM EDT
Leave a comment

Plenty of focus over the next few weeks will be given to the many Americans playing in the Premier League and Bundesliga, but the seasons of several USMNT prospects, alumni, or current players in the lower levels are already underway.

[ MORE: Messi suspended ]

We already showed you Julian Green’s terrific goal for 2.Bundesliga side Gruether Furth on Friday. Here is a list of several other Yanks to monitor this season in Europe.

English Championship

Antonee Robinson, Wigan Athletic — The Latics purchased Robinson from Everton, and USMNT fans will be hoping the left back continues to grow with full-time duty in England’s second tier.

Matt Miazga, Reading (loan from Chelsea) — Reading also liked what it saw from the gumption-filled American center back, and Frank Lampard has shipped the former New York Red Bull out for a second stint.

Andrija Novakovich, Reading — A loan stint in the Eredivisie saw goals in bunches, but some cold streaks. Can he earn regular playing time at his parent club?

Eric Lichaj, Hull City — The Tigers captain has been a mainstay in England, and has performed well when called upon by the national team. He just hasn’t been called too often.

Geoff Cameron, QPR — The longtime Stoke City man just signed a deal to return to the R’s.

Duane Holmes, Derby County — Will the creative midfielder rebound from his summer injury to impress new manager Phillip Cocu.

Tim Ream, Fulham — The longtime defender is back with the Cottagers following relegation to the second tier.

Luca De La Torre, Fulham — At 21, he’ll have a chance to impress Scott Parker. Relegation was good to the young center midfielder.

Also of note: Cameron Carter-Vickers is currently with Spurs, as he’s yet to play in preseason due to injury. He’s been linked with a loan to Leeds United after spending last season on loan to Swansea City and Ipswich Town. There’s also Lynden Gooch at Sunderland, still in League One after failing in a bid to reclaim a place in the Championship. Gboly Ariyibi of Nottingham Forest is reportedly wanted by Motherwell after a loan stint there last season. QPR’s Giles Phillips has been loaned to League One’s Wycombe Wanderers.

2.Bundesliga

Green, Greuther Furth — In addition to Friday’s goal, he’s gone 90 in both of Furth’s matches so far this season.

Khiry Shelton, Paderborn — He’s yet to appear in a match through two matches this season, but made two sub appearances last season.

Kevin Lankford, FC St. Pauli — The 20-year-old left winger is yet to appear for FCSP through two weeks.

Bobby Wood, Hamburg — The same is true for Wood, who went on loan to Hannover 96 last season.

There are several other dual nationals, like Ken Gipson of Sandhausen, but they are not yet on the USMNT radar.