Caught in Possession

Du Nord readers may have already laid eyes on this, but for those who missed it, American Soccer Daily caught up with former DC United netminder and 2006 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Troy Perkins for a candid interview. Perkins is now plying his trade for Norwegian club Valerenga

Many will always remember Perkins for his rags-to-riches -- or in the MLS context, reserves-to-regulars -- story. The plain-spoken Ohioan was an unheralded 'keeper who worked on the side at Modell's sporting goods store to help survive while on a developmental salary, before wrestling the starting job away from Nick Rimando, becoming one of the league's top goalies and eventually moving across the pond to Europe for more money in a more soccer-centric culture.

At first Troy was a pretty unspectacular interview, but as he matured into a starter his confidence and expressiveness grew, and by his final season he could be counted on to tell you just how it was. He wasn't afraid to speak his mind or call out teammates if he felt it was appropriate, and in this ASD piece there's plenty of that bluntness for readers to enjoy.