When Mike Grella passed on the 2009 MLS draft, it was unclear where the Duke striker would test
the professional soccer waters. It appears his quest for a professional contract has landed him in
England.
Grella is on trial with Leeds United, and scored three goals in Leeds' reserve
match against Barnsley on Tuesday.
Photo by Zips Sports Photography
Call it a major mock draft shake-up.
Plenty has happened since the last SBI Mock Draft, from word that Ike Opara would be staying in
school to the latest news that Baggio Husidic would be available.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
by GIANFRANCO PANIZO
When American-born San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Arturo Alvarez stated his public desire
to play for the El Salvador National Team last week, it was upsetting news for USA
fans who considered him a viable left wing prospect and thought they were losing yet another
prospect to a foreign country.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
When Marcus Tracy passed on Major League Soccer's last offer, and decided to skip the MLS
Combine and Draft for a chance at European soccer, he wasn't expected to wait too long to find
interest from abroad.
Good morning everybody. As MLS teams begin to report for rookie training camp and full training
camp in the coming days and weeks, we here at SBI will try to keep you posted on any news and notes
that emerge from those camps.
Veris on trial with D.C. United
Former Los Angeles Galaxy defender Kyle Veris has joined with D.
Just when you thought The Special One was gone for good, now we get word that he could be back
and better than ever.
EPL Talk has revealed that I'm On Setanta Sports is coming backin its new form as a new show on
Setanta Sports called Special 1 TV. No word yet on when or how often the new show will air but
it is heading to the airwaves soon.
The 2008 MLS Draft is just ten days away and the MLS Combine begins on Saturday, meaning the
Generation adidas draft class should be revealed very soon. Sources are telling me the list has
been all but finalized.
A total of nine players have been signed to Generation adidas contract, with a potential tenth
still being discussed.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
by GIANFRANCO PANIZO
The first day of the MLS Combine had its highlights and lowlights, but while some of the MLS
draft's top prospects struggled pretty badly, there were also players who helped increase their
stock.
Photo by Andy Mead/YCJ Photos
A central defender drafted by New York with a second round pick will be taking the field this
week when the New York Red Bulls begin training for rookies and non-roster invitees, but it won't
be the player you were expecting.
If you didn't happen to be one of the few people still in the ballroom at the St. Louis
Convention Center when the fourth and final round of the 2009 MLS Draft wound down, you probably
missed your chance to see one of the best speeches delivered in MLS draft history (or at the very
least, the best draft speech this year).
Photo
by ISIphotos.com
After two days of the MLS Combine two things are clear. This year's draft really is deep with
solid prospects and there will be more wheeling and dealing this week than perhaps any other draft
week in MLS history.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
And down the stretch they come.
We are exactly a week away from the 2009 MLS Draft and this weekend all 15 MLS teams will be in
Ft.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
by GIANFRANCO PANIZO
When American-born San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Arturo Alvarez stated his public desire
to play for the El Salvador National Team last week, it was upsetting news for USA
fans who considered him a viable left wing prospect and thought they were losing yet another
prospect to a foreign country.
The Landon Donovan show continued for Bayern Munich on Monday as the U.S. national team star
came off the bench and scored a goal in Bayern's 2-0 win vs. Kaiserslautern on Monday.
Donovan came off the bench in the second half, replacing Miroslav Klose, and put the friendly
out of reach with his perfect header from close range.
by GIANFRANCO PANIZO
With most people (including those of us on SBI) focused on the MLS Draft and Landon Donovan's
performances with Bayern Munich last week, you might have missed the other American
player who beautifully scored for his German club side. The author of the fascinating
goal?
Photo by ISIphotos.com
You may not have realized it in your post New Year's Day haze but the 2009 MLS Draft is less
than two weeks away.
The upcoming MLS Draft was already stocked with talent, but that talent pool will be a little
deeper after Major League Soccer was able to sign one of its top targets.
University of Illinois-Chicago midfielder Baggio Husidic has signed a Generation adidas contract
and will be available in the 2009 MLS Draft on Jan.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
If you are a U.S. men's national team fan waiting anxiously for USA-Mexico World Cup
qualifying tickets to become available, the wait appears to be over.
UNLV and U.S. Under-20 striker Daniel Cruz has become the ninth player to sign a Generation
adidas contract, making him available for the 2009 MLS Draft on Jan. 15, sources
confirmed to SBI on Tuesday
a sophomore at UNLV, Cruz has emerged as one of the most highly-regarded players in the U.
Everton's search for a striker has led them to none other than Jozy Altidore, but Villarreal
isn't interested.
According to Sky Sports, Everton has had an initial offer for Altidore turned down, with
Villarreal wanting the 18-year-old Altidore to settle in Spain.
Altidore has seen limited playing time for Villarreal, earning a pair of starts just before the
winter break only to return to the bench, but he told SBI just last month that he was happy in
Spain and enjoying his time with Villarreal.
Say it ain't so Joe-Say.
I'm On Setanta Sports aired its final episode on Saturday, ending a great run of comedy that may
never be repeated. Now, that's assuming this isn't just a ploy. Can it really be the end? I refuse
to believe it.
If it is the end, then here is the final episode of perhaps the funniest soccer skit ever, enjoy
it:
Apocalyptic!
Photo by ISIphotos.com
The curious case of Lider Marmol has come to an end in Chicago.
The Paraguayan defender/midfielder has been granted a release from his contract with the Chicago
Fire so that he can join a team in his native Paraguay, sources told SBI over the weekend.
With the New Year upon is, it is time to start thinking about which two lucky cities will be
granted MLS expansion franchises. While the FC Barcelona-backed Miami bid has
received plenty of attention in recent weeks, it isn't the bid that makes the most sense.
The bid that remains the best of the bunch is the St.
Jozy Altidore's loan move to Spanish second division leaders Deportivo Xerez is now official, a
source close to Altidore confirmed on Friday.
Altidore joined his new club today for the start of a half-season loan that should afford him
the opportunity for much more playing time than he has been receiving with Villarreal.
Major League Soccer has unveiled its 2009 Generation adidas class and the nine-player list
didn't have any surprises.
Here is the group, which is the same group we showed you on Tuesday:
-
Steve Zakuani
-
Omar Gonzalez
-
Rodney Wallace
-
Jeremy Hall
-
Baggio Husidic
-
Kevin Alston
-
Stefan Frei
-
Peri Marosevic
-
Daniel Cruz
The one player not on this list who was still in talks with MLS is UCLA midfielder Michael
Stephens.
The MLS Draft is less than 24 hours away, meaning it is time to focus on the final MLS Mock
Draft.
As you have figured out by now, none of the several trades expected to take place involving
draft picks have been made official yet, or even consumated yet (save for the FC Dallas-New York
deal involving the 11th and 13th), so we still don't know what the actual final draft order will
look like.
There may not be a busier time of year for trade talk than early January, as teams posture and
prepare for the MLS Draft. Teams all over the league are talking about deals involving draft picks
and veterans they want to unload.
A lot of trades won't be made until after the MLS Combine and just before the raft, but here are
just some of the tidbits (some new, some old) I have come across in my conversations with the
league's movers and shakers:
FC Dallas has a surplus of young players and is trying to unload at least a few
of them ahead of the draft.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
When Marcus Tracy passed on Major League Soccer's last offer, and decided to skip the MLS
Combine and Draft for a chance at European soccer, he wasn't expected to wait too long to find
interest from abroad.
Hello folks. I am on a plane and about to take off for lovely Ft. Lauderdale, Florida ahead of
this weekend's MLS Combine. It should be an interesting event and certainly a better Combine than
last year, when Day 1 was the soccer equivalent of watching paint dry.
For those of you wondering where the soccer TV schedule is, I will be posting it on Saturday
morning.
Photo courtesy of Duke Athletics
By DYLAN BUTLER
Following a successful two-week trial, former Duke University standout Mike Grella has been
offered a contract to play with English First Division side Leeds United, sources told SBI on
Friday.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
by GIANFRANCO PANIZO
That's it, that's all. All the (potential) future MLS players have made their cases and now just
have to sit back and wait to see if their number is called.
Good morning folks. It is the day before the 2009 MLS Draft, which generally goes down as the
busiest day of the year for transactions. With draft pick trades, and deals for veterans flying,
the chances are very good that your team will look very different two days from now.
This is what we have been hearing in the past day or so:
Seattle is openly courting offers for the No.
by GIANFRANCO PANIZO
After two solid weeks of impressive performances to start the new year, Americans playing
abroad ran into a wall this past weekend.
The majority of Americans Abroad either sat on the bench or did not dress last
weekend, while many of the players who did see time struggled with results and their own
performances.
The Houston Dynamo didn't have a high pick in the 2009 MLS Draft but the Western Conference
power still might boast one of the most exciting young players coming into MLS this season.
The Dynamo has completed the signing of U.S. Under-20 star Felix Garcia, acquiring his rights
from the PDL Laredo Heat for an undisclosed transfer fee, sources confirmed to SBI on Tuesday
night.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
And down the stretch they come.
We are exactly a week away from the 2009 MLS Draft and this weekend all 15 MLS teams will be in
Ft.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
The New York Red Bulls have been among the busier teams this weekend, trying to secure some
deals before the MLS Draft and now two of their midfielders could be on the move.
The MLS Draft is less than 24 hours away, meaning it is time to focus on the final MLS Mock
Draft.
As you have figured out by now, none of the several trades expected to take place involving
draft picks have been made official yet, or even consumated yet (save for the FC Dallas-New York
deal involving the 11th and 13th), so we still don't know what the actual final draft order will
look like.
Fans of the expansion Philadelphia MLS franchise are probably treading a bit nervously after
comments attributed to Nick Sakiewicz about the expansion team's stadium project, which was
originally set to be ready in time for when the team begins play in 2010.
"I wish we could give you hard commitments today, but we're not even sure the stadium is
going to be built," Sakiewiecz told the Delaware County Times.
Today is shaping up to be a good day.
With the MLS Combine just two days away, it is time to start focusing on the MLS Draft and
everything that goes into this time of year. It isn't just a time to evaluate the incoming draft
talent, but also time to prepare for wheeling and dealing and the potential movement of several
veteran players.
by GIANFRANCO PANIZO
When Maurice Edu made a move from Toronto FC to Scottish powerhouse Glasgow Rangers
in August of 2008, big expectations awaited him.
In his first handful of months with the Scottish Premier League giant, the former
U.S. Olympic standout has only amassed 64 minutes in one
lone appearance this season.
