Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber held a special meeting in New York City with Houston Dynamo midfielder Stuart Holden on Thursday to discuss a new deal, according to Houston's FOX 26. The move is a strong sign that the league considers the up-and-coming U.S. international as one of their most important assets and wants to avoid losing him during the offseason.

SPL side Motherwell have released their new home jersey for the 2009-10 season, manufactured by New Zealand based Canterbury. It is an amber shirt with claret and white trim and claret hoop. The Canterbury logo is below the collar, with the Motherwell crest and the logo of sponsors JAXX below it. It is accompanied by yellow [.

Aberdeen FC manager Mark McGhee appears to have conceded defeat in the club's attempts to sign Stuart Holden, Sky Sports reported Thursday.
Get more on the story at ASN's 'Over There' page.

Once managed by the great Sir Alex Ferguson, Aberdeen Football Club (also known as The Dons, The Dandies or The Dandy Dons) is a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen. They compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the most successful teams in their country, having won four league titles and [.

Here is a photo of the new VFB Stuttgart 2009-10 Home Jersey. Stuttgart finished third in the 2008-09 Bundesliga, and were in the running for the title until the last day of the season. They scripted a remarkable second half turn around under new boss Markus Babbel, and will be hoping to challenge for the [.

In what could be a sure sign that Rohan Ricketts is soon to exist the club, a report comes to us via a loyal MLSR reader indicating that TFC is poised to sign Jamie Smith. An ex Aberdeen player linked to the club here on MLSR about a month ago.
Courtesy of the Aberdeen Evening Express:

FORMER Aberdeen FC star Jamie Smith is set to complete a move to MLS side Toronto FC after impressing during a trial period at the Canadian side.

The following comes to us via anonymous email, do with it what you will:
MLSR, I have it on good authority that Jamie Smith, a striker currently with Aberdeen in Scotland is set to sign with Toronto FC having already agreed to terms Please keep my name anonymous. Thank you.
Short and to the point.

Premier League champions Manchester United have officially unveiled photos of their new home kit for the 2009-10 season. The new shirt, manufactured by Nike, celebrates the 100th year of Manchester United's home ground, Old Trafford. The stadium was opened in the 1909-10 season. The shirt is primarily red, with a large chevron across the chest.

Fans of SPL club Aberdeen, here is another offering from the club. They released the new home shirt some time back, and now the third kit for the 2009-10 season has been released. The new third shirt, made by Nike, is similar to design to the Aberdeen home kit. The shirt is black in colour, with [...

Onetime Toronto FC target, Aberdeen's winger/striker Jamie Smith is set to sign with Colorado as is Argentine striker Facundo Diz, who has long been rumored to be joining the mile high club.
Excerpt courtesy of the Denver Post:

In addition to signing 30-year-old French defender Julien Baudet, the Rapids — pending any paperwork snafus — will add 30-year-old Argentine striker Facundo Diz, formerly with Atletico Platense, and 28-year-old Scottish winger Jamie Smith, who was last at Aberdeen and played with Rapids assistant Steve Guppy at Celtic.

By TRAVIS CLARK

With the MLS transfer window opening recently, a lot of moves have already been made as squads look for reinforcements to boost their playoff chances. Sometimes this means taking a risk on an overseas player who may struggle to adapt to the different demands of MLS.

Today's Edinburgh Derby ended tied at 0-0 at Tynecastle Stadium. Interestingly enought, both clubs square off again next weekend in the fourth round of the 2008-09 Scottish Cup. This time the matc will be held at Easter Road.
Other notable fourth-round matches include:
Rangers at St.

Trading Red for Red, Smith may soon make T-Dot home.
According to several overseas sources, including this BBC article, and this one in the Aberdeen Evening Express, the Aberdeen winger could be headed to BMO Field.
Here is an excerpt from the Express:

Smith, however, looks certain to move and is understood to have already opened talks with MLS side Toronto, who are managed by former Scotland striker Mo Johnston.

From the Colorado Rapids Front Office, the team announced two roster moves today, as the team has signed Scottish midfielder Jamie Smith. Per club and league policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. In another roster move, Colorado waived midfielder Terry Cooke.

Forget the Old Firm duo of Celtic and Rangers momentarily and the remnants of Scottish football looks rather bare and barren, the vision of a champion outside the streets of Glasgow only a hallucination of the mind for many. With over 82% of the champions originating from the Scottish capital, the iron grip has resolutely shackled the prospects of the other ten competing clubs in the Scottish Premier League.

Once managed by the great Sir Alex Ferguson, Aberdeen Football Club (also known as The Dons, The Dandies or The Dandy Dons) is a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen. They compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the most successful teams in their country, having won four league titles and [.

Terry Cooke delivers one of his signature crosses from the right wing on July 4 against the Chicago Fire at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Cooke was waived by the Rapids on Tuesday. (photo by Jonathan Ingraham/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

The Colorado Rapids have waived midfielder Terry Cooke to make room on the roster for Scottish midfielder Jamie Smith.

The word 'legend' has been thrown around a lot these last few days in the pubs of Aberdeen. There's talk of rekindling the spirit of '83, of domestic success and of fortress Pittodrie around the Aberdeen FC forums and fansites.

If, as is widely expected, Mark McGhee returns to the club where he more than earned his legend status, he can expect a mostly warm welcome from the Pittodrie support hankering for success after many years in the footballing wilderness.

The Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen
Continuing our occasional series whereby we dip a toe into football fan culture, I thought we'd get up close with the biggest and best Ultra group in the UK. The Red Ultras of Aberdeen are in their tenth year of bringing colour, passion, noise and vibrancy not only to home matches but all over Scotland and across Europe as well.

Colorado Rapids have added Scottish midfielder Jamie Smith to their playing roster for the expense of former Manchester United player Terry Cooke. Smith joins the Rapids following an extensive professional career abroad. The 28-year olds career began in Scotland with Celtic FC followed by stints with Dutch side ADO Den Haag and most recently Scottish Premier League club Aberdeen FC.

Mr. Ricketts may be making a permanent trip to Scotland if all goes well.
According to the Aberdeen FC website (click here for all the details), ex-Toronto FC midfielder, Rohan Ricketts, is on trial with Aberdeen FC of the Scottish Premier League and played in the a pre-season friendly against Hull City this weekend.

The Scottish Premier League released its 2009-10 fixtures list recently.
Opening Weekend Rundown -- Here are three important matches, Rangers, 2008-09 SPL title holders, hosts Falkirk while Celtic visits Aberdeen and neophyte St. Johnstone has Motherwell at home all on Saturday, August 15th.

By TRAVIS CLARK

With the MLS transfer window opening recently, a lot of moves have already been made as squads look for reinforcements to boost their playoff chances. Sometimes this means taking a risk on an overseas player who may struggle to adapt to the different demands of MLS.

Aberdeen 1-3 Celtic (15:08:09)
- click on photos to enlarge image -
There are two main industries in Aberdeen; oil and lap dancing. Basically, one half of Aberdeen take oil out of the ground and the other half rub it all over their bodies. Boom boom, welcome to the Granite City where Cynical Dave and I would pitch up for three days of football and beer.

McGhee proves there's no room for sentimentality in modern football