livestrong and sporting kc end their naming rights deal http://espn.go.com/sports/endurance...gue-soccer-sporting-kc-end-naming-rights-deal
so the people on goemaw are saying if Barca plays the MLS allstars then Messi and co. will actually play. Any idea if that would be the case?
That's what I was thinking. I would spend a lot of money to see Messi play in person, but I just don't see it happening.
New England acquires the #1 overall pick in tomorrow's SuperDraft from Toronto for the #4 pick and allocation money.
Grant Wahl @GrantWahl Sporting KC finally getting a shirt sponsor today. (Presuming it won't be Livestrong.)
Grant Wahl @GrantWahl SBD reporting new KC shirt sponsor is Ivy Fundshttp://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Morning-Buzz/2013/01/17/MLS.aspx … (via @A_S12) #MLS
Ives Galarcep @SoccerByIves Breaking: Toronto FC-New England Revs trade never happened. Turns out Revs were on the phone w/some girl pulling a hoax. #Teo#YesImKidding
scored 28 goals for IU in his 1.5 years on campus with 18 of them coming this past fall in his sophomore campaign (11 of the 18 tied or won games). He's an IN kid but spent his sophomore and junior years of HS down in Bradenton, FL at the U-17 residency program. Pretty sure he originally projected to be a defender but he started at forward from game one of his freshman year and didn't miss a game. His biggest strength IMO is his ability to play with his back to the goal and create for others in the process. He'll probably come off as an arrogant type of guy but the way he carried himself was one of the things I grew to love most about him. By the end of his sophomore season he was more dangerous than Will Bruin was by the end of his junior season
the Sounders pro shop has a really really soft looking tee-shirt that's about to get KOP'ed http://proshop.soundersfc.com/ProductDetail.aspx?CategoryID=2680&ProductID=38180
They also signed DeAndre Yedlin from Akron to a Homegrown contract, he would've been a top 10 pick if he was in the draft. He'll be pretty easy to pick out on the field.
Looks like it would be built with the ability to greatly expand the max capacity over time. I wonder what the MLS is planning on doing now if the Cosmos have a viable stadium plan in place? Still skeptical on the funding needed to support their endeavor, but this looks to be well ahead of the MLS Queens project that is only a few miles away. If these guys have their act together you have to let the Cosmos into the MLS.
That is an awesome stadium but I can't see MLS approaching them unless Flushing Meadows fails, and Fred Wilpon is trying to make sure it does since he can't afford to buy the team and build a stadium anymore. Funding is definitely skeptical and I believe this Cosmos ownership group has stated they have no interest in MLS's single entity structure. Doesn't Nassau County have a history of NIMBY's going all rabble rabble rabble?
I have to imagine with the Islanders bolting to Brooklyn that Nassau might be open to something like this
So with Brek Shea's impending transfer to Stoke, how much of the fee does FC Dallas get and how much can they use in allocation money?
2/3 of the fee to Dallas, 1/3 to MLS. They'll be able to use up to $650,000 towards allocation money.
Dumb, trying to be a fan of this team is getting old. Report: Sousa rejects Red Bulls head coaching job Posted on January 22, 2013 by Ives Galarcep By IVES GALARCEP In what is becoming a recurring theme with the New York Red Bulls, just when they look like they have their guy, something goes wrong and the team is left scrambling. Just a week after sources told SBI that the Red Bulls and Paulo Sousa had reached an agreement to make Sousa the team’s new head coach, a fresh report out of Portugal states that Sousa has decided to pass on the job after initially leaving his head coaching job with Hungarian side Videoton expressly to take the New York job. One source with knowledge of the coaching search said that Sousa’s hiring will not happen know, though it remains unclear just what went wrong in the days since Sousa initially agreed to take the position. It remains unclear just what has happened with the process to hire a head coach, but this latest development comes on the heals of Claudio Reyna turning down the Red Bulls’ offer of being the team’s lead assistant coach. It is believed the team wanted to have both head coach and assistant coach in place before making an announcement, but Reyna’s delay in making a decision, coupled with his ultimate decision to pass on the assistant coaching role, appears to have soured Sousa on joining the Red Bulls as well. Now the Red Bulls are in training camp without a head coach or lead assistant, with Mike Petke serving as the interim coach while New York sorts out the situation (marking the first time in MLS history a team has gone into training camp without a head coach hired). Sources tell SBI that the team has been interviewing candidates for the assistant coaching opening, but now the team is once again on the search for a head coach. The Red Bulls had appeared to be leaning toward hiring a foreign head coach, with an American assistant coach, but after passing on Gary McAllister and now having seemingly been snubbed by Sousa, the Red Bulls may have no choice but to dip into a deep pool of experienced former MLS coaches currently available. A pool that includes Jesse Marsch, Robin Fraser, Preki and Denis Hamlett to name a few. The Red Bulls could now be forced to consider making Petke the team’s permanent head coach. Though he has no previous head coaching experience, Petke has the standing within the organization, and the respect of the fan base, to be well received as a coaching hire. If Sousa has, in fact, walked away from the Red Bulls, the team may have no choice but to hand the team over to Petke. The drawn-out coaching search has soured what has actually been a good off-season for the Red Bulls in terms of rebuilding the squad. The departure of Rafa Marquez and acquisitions of Juninho Pernambucano, Jamison Olave and Fabian Espindola to name a few has the Red Bulls looking poised to be a stronger team in 2013. The only problem is they do not have a coach yet and the season is due to kick off in less than six week with the Red Bulls traveling to Portland on March 3rd.
MLS Ticker: Silvestre on trial with Timbers, Crew sign Glauber, and more Posted on January 22, 2013 by Franco Panizo By FRANCO PANIZO The Portland Timbers have added a number of experienced players this offseason under the guidance of new head coach Caleb Porter, and they might soon add another who has played at some of the biggest clubs in the world. Timbers owner Merritt Paulson tweeted on Tuesday that former Manchester United and Arsenal defender Mikael Silvestre is set to begin a training stint with Portland. The 35-year-old Frenchman has been without a club since he and Werder Bremen parted ways at the end of the 2011-2012 campaign. Aside from playing at two of the most historic clubs in England, Silvestre has also spent time with Inter Milan and French club Rennes in his career. He also represented France 40 times at the international level from 2001-2006. Here are more notes from around the league: CREW SIGN BRAZILIAN CENTERBACK GAUBER Near the top of the Columbus Crew’s wish list this offseason was finding a partner for centerback Chad Marshall. The club found their man on Tuesday. The Crew announced Tuesday morning that they have signed Brazilian defender Glauber as a Discovery Signing. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the 29-year-old centerback joins Columbus after having spent time at Manchester City, FC Nurnberg and, most recently, Rapid Bucharest of the Romania’s Liga 1. “Gláuber is a world-class international defender who we feel will be a great compliment to Chad Marshall, anchoring our central defense,” Crew president and general manager Mark McCullers said in a released statement. “This was a key priority to improve our team in the offseason and we are excited for him to join the club.” IMPACT DRAFT PICK DELPICCOLO SIGNS WITH EINTRACHT FRANKFURT If the Montreal Impact’s gamble in the recent MLS SuperDraft is going to pay off, it will have to be some time in the future. The Impact’s second-round draft pick, midfielder Paolo DelPiccolo, has signed a contract with German Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt. While DelPiccolo has opted to start his professional career abroad, the Impact will maintain the Louisville product’s MLS rights. ONSTAD JOINS TFC STAFF AFTER PARTING WAYS WITH UNITED It had been rumored for about a week already, but Pat Onstad has officially made the move from D.C. United to Toronto FC. TFC announced on Tuesday that Onstad, a former Canadian international, joined the club as Chief Scout and Manager of Football Partnerships. Onstad joins Toronto FC president and general manager Kevin Payne as former members of D.C. United to move to TFC this offseason. “I had the pleasure of working with Pat at D.C. United and have great respect for him. He’s meticulous, diligent, and he knows our league very well,” Payne said in a statement released by Toronto FC. “He’s a perfect fit for this role and will be a great asset for our club.”
Ryan Nelsen will play his last game for QPR January 29th and join TFC at the end of the month. Toronto has had a fantastic offseason and might actually prove its worth this year.
what would it take for MLS to get a promotion/relegation system. people are saying this partnership between MLS/USL teams is a big for soccer in america. just wondering what it will take
Yep. If it happens, the salary cap will have to be removed and some teams will just ridiculously outspend the smaller teams. MLS/USL partnership is for player developmental purposes only, and it's the first step. It'll look completely different in 3 years as I see it becoming an MLB/NHL type farm system. Sporting Kansas City has affiliated with Orlando, and it's rumored Philly will align with Harrisburg, DC with Richmond, and NE with Rochester. The teams not with affiliates will compete in the MLS Reserve League with some USL interleague games. Teams that do affiliate won't be competing in the MLS Reserve League.
I'd say we would need the MLS to prove its stability for at least 10 years forward before a relegation system is ready. It wasn't even 10 years ago that we thought the MLS was a gonner to bankruptcy and the whole league would fold. There are too many sports in the US for an MLS team to survive falling in relegation to a USL type league. I can't see half of MLS fans packing their 20,000 arena's if they aren't in the top league.
http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/01/23/mls-usl-pro-reach-deal-restructured-reserve-league It's been rumored for months, and on Wednesday afternoon MLS and USL Pro made it official: The two leagues have reached an agreement to integrate MLS Reserve League teams into the USL Pro schedule, a multi-year deal that will feature "interleague" play between MLSRL teams and the 13 USL Pro sides. In the year ahead, that deal also includes affiliations for select teams, facilitating loans from MLS to USL Pro clubs (the third tier of the US soccer pyramid) for players who otherwise wouldn't get much playing time in the top flight. The goal is to immediately improve professional player development in the United States and Canada, providing more and better competition for young pros with big-league dreams. The coming months will also see joint "technical and commercial initiatives" between the two leagues as the details are ironed out. “This partnership represents the first step in a long-term alliance between MLS and USL Pro to connect domestic professional soccer through a system that benefits player development, competition and the overall business of our sport,” said MLS executive vice president of player relations and competition Todd Durbin in a press release. “Over the past several years, USL Pro has made great strides in restructuring in a manner that serves to complement the objectives of MLS. This is a win-win for all involved and it demonstrates our strong commitment to growing North American professional soccer at all levels.” Currently there are 13 USL Pro clubs, including six in the Southeastern United States, an area in which MLS Commissioner Don Garber has talked openly about expanding the league's footprint. Two USL teams — VSI Tampa Bay FC and Phoenix FC — are set to kick off this year. A 14th team based in Sacramento will enter the league in 2014. As it stands, each of the USL Pro teams will play a pair interleague games against MLS Reserve teams. USL Pro teams have been paired with a single MLS team to play a home-and-home series, save for Antigua, who will play both games at the site of the MLS team. The interleague games will count in both the official USL Pro and MLS Reserve League standings. Club affiliations between MLS and USL Pro sides will be tailored to the needs of each specific team, and will include at least four MLS players going out on a long-term loan to their USL affiliate. Last year Portland's Bright Dike parlayed a good summertime run of form with the LA Blues into a starting job with the Timbers down the stretch, and several other players spent time honing their skills with USL Pro clubs. The MLS Reserve League provides meaningful competition for players who are not regulars in the first team’s matches such as young players, players returning from injury, and youth development products. Each of the 19 MLS clubs will field either a Reserve Team or establish an affiliation with a USL PRO club. MLS teams with formal USL Pro affiliates will not play in the 2013 MLS Reserve League. No clubs are required to enter into an affiliation, and specific affiliations will be announced in the coming days. “USL Pro has for the past several years been the most sophisticated and competitive professional soccer league under MLS,” USL CEO Alec Papadakis said. “This new partnership with MLS will elevate and strengthen the level of competition for domestic professional soccer while simultaneously creating a more sustainable financial model for team owners. As a result, we expect this partnership will forge a seamless system for the development of players and coaches, and promote the expansion of professional soccer into new North American markets.” Details of the fixtures will be announced in conjunction with the forthcoming release of the official 2013 USL Pro schedule.
ah, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds are in the USL Pro (they used to be one division higher), hopefully they pair up with a club, Columbus Crew might be a solid option, its only 3 hours away.
ah, apparently the Riverhounds plan to join the MLS within the next decade (assuming all goes well). they are about to open a 3,500 seat stadium that can expand to 18,500. its pretty awesome, sadly they use turf because the stupid ass lame women's football team will play there too despite no one wanting them.
Pretty big step up for the MLS. Looks like it is going to be a cross between a mlb farm system and the NBA D-League
MLS Ticker: Norwich eyeing Kamara, Whitecaps signing Japanese playmaker, and more Posted on January 23, 2013 by VinceM By VINCE MADURI Sky Sports in England are reporting that Norwich City have made a bid to Sporting Kansas City aimed at securing forward Kei Kamara to help them avoid the drop in the second half of the season. The forward has scored nine goals or more in each of his last three seasons, including eleven this past season and was recently named Sierra Leone player of the year. Kamara is the most recent of several SKC players to benefit from the club’s recent success and be linked with English clubs, following former teammate Roger Espinoza’s move to Wigan and Graham Zusi’s trial at West Ham. Here are some more MLS stories to get you through Wednesday. WHITECAPS TO SIGN JAPANESE ATTACKING MIDFIELDER The Vancouver Whitecaps continue to add attacking talent to their repertoire as they look set to sign Japanese midfielder Daigo Kobayashi. Kobayashi will join the Whitecaps Wednesday for medicals ahead of his signing, assuming all goes well. The 29-year-old began his professional career in 2001 with Tokyo Verdy, where he went on to win an Emperor’s Cup in 2004 and Japanese Super Cup in 2005. He was loaned to Norwegian champions Stabaek, and played in Europa League qualifying. In 2010, he signed with Iraklis in Greece and returned 18 months later to join Shimizu S-Pulse in the J-League. Kobayashi has played for Japan at the U-20 level and has been capped once for the senior team in a friendly. The Whitecaps have also reportedly signed a trio of forwards to the roster. Corey Hertzog, Tom Heinemann and Paul Jr. have all been added to the Vancouver roster, increase speculation about the future of current forwards Kenny Miller and Omar Salgado. TIMBERS RELEASE FRANCK SONGO’O The Portland Timbers have released midfielder Franck Songo’o as they look to clip their roster. Under the new leadership of Caleb Porter, the Timbers have been busy adding several players including midfielder Will Johnson and some difficult roster decisions were bound to be made. Songo’o probably is a casualty of being surplus to requirements as he had a very good first season in MLS. The Cameroon international appeared in 27 games for the Timbers, scoring one goal and assisting on 5, the second best on the team. LABROCCA TRADED TO COLORADO SBI reported Tuesday that Chivas USA continued its facelift by trading midfield playmaker Nick LaBrocca to Colorado Rapids for Mexican-American midfielder Eric Avila. Nick LaBrocca returns to Colorado, where he started his career in 2007. He made 61 appearances for the Rapids, scoring four goals before moving to Chivas USA. The midfielder had a career year in 2011, scoring eight goals and six assists. LaBrocca had been hailed as the Goats most impressive outfield player over his two years at the club. Eric Avila enjoyed his best season of his career thus far last season with Toronto FC, scoring one goal and assisting on two in a career high 24 appearances.