Landon Donovan on the New England Revolution via the @UnfilteredSoccr podcast: “Let me put it this way: If somebody said tomorrow that the New England Revolution are playing three-quarters of a mile down the road, right there, outside your home, and here’s a free ticket, I’m not going.” “I have zero interest in watching them. Zero. There’s nothing interesting about watching them. Nothing. There’s no history. They’ve never won anything. They play in a football stadium. There’s nothing exciting about watching them.” “They don’t have any—well, they have Carles Gil, who’s a great player—but there’s nothing remotely interesting about watching them.” #NERevs | #MLS

Ma-tees Al-bear....Settled! @straight_red @11Yanks @ManagerTactical @MLSMoves @StanUsmnt nitter.cf/USMNT/status/210365053…

Sources: The Philadelphia Union turned down an offer from Borussia Dortmund for Malik Jakupovic during the most recent transfer window. Jakupovic, 17, is a blue-chip prospect for both the Union and U.S. soccer. As a Homegrown player for Philadelphia, he is under contract through the 2029-30 season, with a club option for 2030-31. A massive sign of Jakupovic’s potential, with Dortmund being perennial developers of young talent. Under Ryan Richter, Jakupovic has taken significant strides in his development, including scoring his first MLS goal. #doop #USMNT #USYNT #MLS #Dortmund #Bundesliga 📸: Don Robson (@donrobson) and Dortmund

The Crew announced today that Crew 2 Head Coach Federico Higuaín has been dismissed from his duties with the Club. 📰: cbuscrew.com/statement092226

These players are divas and need way too much convincing in general. With that said, our federation work in a horrible way. We will never succeed like this.

TEAM NEWS: Damion Downs will replace Ricardo Pepi on the September/October camp roster. 📝: ussoc.cr/7b0c8a

“He shouldn't be doing podcasts at 16. You don't see Max Dowman on podcasts, do you? Who’s allowing that? It's a bizarre one really.” Former Liverpool and England midfielder Danny Murphy spoke about Cavan Sullivan, who appeared on USMNT legend Alexi Lalas’ podcast. During that podcast, Cavan said he believes he could’ve made a different against Belgium in the World Cup. Murphy doesn’t mind the confidence, but he doesn’t think a 16-year-old should be on podcasts where he could say wrong things and face backlash. “I think a 16-year-old who's a talent, playing anywhere, should be supported and guided better,” Murphy said. “He shouldn't be doing podcasts at 16. You don't see Max Dowman on podcasts, do you? “You know, it's who you've got around you, and I would imagine if he was a young kid at Man United or Man City, you wouldn't be seeing him on podcasts. “Is that an American thing, though? Maybe. I don't know how the MLS works. I mean, who's allowing that? It's a bizarre one really. “I mean, I don't blame him. He's a kid. He's 16. If you give a 16-year-old a platform, he's going to say something a bit out there. “I like his confidence, don't get me wrong. All really good players at 16 will talk themselves up and think they could go and play men's football. Yeah, I think so. You've got to have that elite mentality. I don't mind that. “My worry is who's around him, if he's being allowed to go and talk on those podcasts. You know, people around him seem to be thinking, 'Go on then.' “I don't know who's done it and what else he was talking about on there. But you don't see many 16 year olds doing it. “I can't remember Michael Owen at 16, or Wayne Rooney talking about themselves and pulling themselves up and being put in a position where they have to answer questions like that. “Michael was elite mentality. He had a real belief that he was, you know, like the main man. He wasn't in awe of anybody. “And Wayne wasn't either. I remember being with Rooney in his first England squad. He had no fear. I had fear when I was that age. When I first went to Liverpool, I felt like a bit of an imposter. “[Steven] Gerrard was another one. First day, just looked effortless. Just didn't care who he was up against. No fear, no respect. “You've got to have something about you. Yeah, of course you have, but it comes in different forms. The elite ones have this kind of really strong mindset at a young age. “But it goes back to the same thing. You need some good people around you. It might not be parents or agents. I'm talking about at the football club. “[Sir Alex] Ferguson was the best there, wasn't it? No one ever heard from Ryan Giggs. Giggs didn't do an interview until he was about 42. “He [Cavan] has already done a deal with City. Is that right? He's going there, yeah. So he's obviously a super talent. But he's got to be protected. “You can't expect a 16-year-old to protect himself. He needs some help along the way. And it's all about those who are around you.” [via talkSPORT]

One interesting note from my conversation with Julian Hall is that he told me that his call up today doesn’t “solidify” him playing for the #USMNT. Poland has made a push for Hall to be part of their national team and he said he’s “still open to my Polish side.” #RBNY