The Daily Dirt, July 10: If You Leave

The MLS coaching hot seat claimed Adrian Heath last week, are there other clubs looking at making changes in the near future?

Let’s work our way up from the bottom of the table. Chicago is in the first year of Veljko Paunović’s run and will likely have some patience with him. His talent cupboard is definitely lacking and they will struggle until upgrades are made. Columbus is seven months removed from hosting MLS Cup and Gregg Berhalter should have some security due to that. However, the Kei Kamara situation was a mess and the team only has 16 points in 17 games.

Seattle is next and could be a real possibility for a change. Sigi Schmid is the only coach the MLS Sounders have known, but he has not brought a MLS Cup appearance to the city. They have won four US Open Cups, reached the playoffs each year, and made a semifinal in the CONCACAF Champions League. Escaping the Western Conference has eluded him though. With Seattle currently eight points out of a playoff spot, ownership might feel desperate to make a change while there is time to rally.

Houston and Orlando are next and they have already made changes. It does not look like the Dynamo will look to the future until the off-season, giving Wade Barrett a chance to show what he can do in the meantime. Orlando will likely not sit and wait, and could even try to make a big splash with a coaching hire.

The other clubs that would miss out on the playoffs today are DC United, San Jose, and Portland. Ben Olsen has been in charge in the nation’s capital since 2010 and ownership seems to be comfortable with his work. Until they spend some money on roster upgrades, they will have to rely on what they can find within the league to improve. Some DCU fans do question whether Olsen is still getting the most out of the roster he has though. Dominic Kinnear is a mainstay in the league and likely is not leaving any time soon. Caleb Porter won MLS Cup last year and is firmly established in Portland.

Everything points back to Seattle and Schmid. If they do make a change now, will it affect Atlanta United’s manager search? Let us know what you think in the comments or send us a FanPost we can share.

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America

The National Women’s Soccer League and the Western New York Flash should be embarrassed that they thought this was a good idea (Stars and Stripes FC). Seattle Reign coach called the field a “farce.” (Sounder at Heart)

Seattle is now in the cellar of the Western Conference after losing 1-0 at home to the LA Galaxy. (Sounder at Heart)

Philadelphia throttled DC United 3-0, led by Ilsinho’s brace (Brotherly Game)

Columbus is in free fall after a 3-1 loss away to New England. Kei Kamara scored in his first match against his old club. (Massive Report)

Chicago has not won on the road in two years, that streak continued with a 1-0 loss in Toronto (Hot Time in Old Town)

You wouldn’t like Giovinco when he’s angry:

Colorado and Vancouver share the points in a 2-2 draw, 10 man Colorado scored the equalizer in stoppage time (Burgundy Wave)

Montreal went to Utah and earned a draw at Rio Tinto against Real Salt Lake (RSL Soapbox)

USWNT defeats South Africa 1-0 on a Crystal Dunn goal in an Olympic tune-up (Stars and Stripes FC)

Kwadwo Poku scored his first goal for Miami FC in a losing effort as the Cosmos came back to win 3-2 in a NASL match:

Charleston earned a point on the road with a 1-1 draw in Louisville in USL action, Atlanta United’s Alex Tambakis was in goal for the Battery (Dirty South Soccer)

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World

Euro 2016 comes to a close today as the hosts France look to deny Portugal their first major trophy (Sky Sports)

Barcelona’s launches an interesting PR campaign, #WeAreAllLeoMessi (FC Barcelona)

Marc-Andre ter Stegen heading to Manchester City? (Daily Mail)

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Atlanta

The Silverbacks came back from 1-0 down to win 2-1 in extra time in the NPSL South Atlantic Conference final over Tobacco Road FC. Mitch Garcia’s amazing free kick in second half stoppage time sent the game to extra time where Avery Sheppard’s deflection proved to be the difference. They will now travel to face Miami United in the South Region semifinal next Saturday night. (Gwinnett Daily Post)

The Silverbacks Women did not fare so well in their WPSL playoffs. After an undefeated regular season, they fell in the Southeast Conference semifinal to Knoxville 3-2. (Gwinnett Daily Post)

Charlotte defeated the South Georgia Tormenta 3-0 in Statesboro in the Tormenta home finale for 2016. 2207 fans came to Erk Russell Field for the match.