Despite Conor Casey's franchise record of 16 goals in a season, an incredibly productive year for Omar Cummings (eight goals, 12 assists), and a full complement of attacking defenders who didn't send the ball into the stands every other play, the Colorado Rapids limped through the final games with insufficient ammunition when the stakes were highest. Click to continue reading...

After Warzycha benched the teams biggest threat for the teams biggest match (what a dope!), it should have sent warning shots in the minds of everyone associated with MLS.

Former All Star, MLS Cup Winner, Boca Jrs. Legend and league MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto has just been asked to take a sizable pay cut by the Columbus Crew, to the tune of $400k.

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MLS announced this afternoon that L.A. Galaxy forward Landon Donovan has been named league MVP. The honor, which is the first MVP trophy in the 29-year-old's 9-year career, comes as a precursor to Sunday night's MLS Cup Final -- when Donovan and L.A. will take on Real Salt Lake.

Donovan, who had 12 goals and 6 assists in 25 games this year, beat out finalists Shalrie Joseph (New England Revolution) and Jeff Cunningham (FC Dallas) for the award.

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Landon Donovan was named the 2009 MLS MVP. (LA Galaxy)

The 2009 Major League Soccer MVP was announced today and the result isn't going to shock most of you as LA Galaxy star Landon Donovan takes home the award.

For the first time in his career, Donovan took home the league's highest honors by beating out New England's Shalrie Joseph and Dallas' Jeff Cunningham.

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We already knew this, but Avoiding the Drop crunches some numbers to show how Guillermo was the most productive and economical designated player in the league last year:

He had more goals (14), more combined goals and assists (17), and – probably the biggest factor for the Crew – was the cheapest on a per-goal basis* ($38,235).

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Eduardo's instincts in the final third should ensure he endures a seamless transition to centre forward in the absence of Robin van Persie.
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No sooner did Robin van Persie get the hang of this goalscoring lark, he became the latest player in Arsenal's history under Wenger's tenure to fall foul to the November injury jinx.

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While the injury to Robin van Persie was disturbing news this past weekend, let's try not to go overboard. Posts on message boards and the like have been raging about how our season is over, etc., etc., etc.... That is hardly the case. Yes, he has been in the form of his life with 8 goals and 7 assists in 15 matches.

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Didier Drogba has had a ridiculous start to the year. Not only has his squad, Chelsea, met their high preseason expectations and remained the top squad despite some tough challenges, but the forward has done a great job shaking off the rust from last year's injury plagued season and has performed up to the peak of his abilities.

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Why is this man not in the All XI?

Its the numbers you produce and not the little things that you do on the pitch to improve your team which seems to drive the MLS All XI. Even when you factor in stats it does not seem to add up to why Cuauhtemoc Blanco was left out.

Blanco played 21 matches, started in 15 of them and in 1452 minutes of playing time he scored 5 goals and 8 assists.

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Our regular Guest Contributor, Ted Harwood, takes a look at Cesc Fabregas' secret weapon, Alex Song, and his emergence this season as one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League. Song's form is directly related to Cesc's performances this season of 10 assists in 10 league matches, just one less than the total that led the league last season, as well as his 9 goals in all competitions. Click to continue reading...

With his contract expiring next summer, Fabio Aurelio is free to sign a pre-contract agreement with another other club in January. Rafa Benitez reportedly wants Liverpool to renew Aurelio's contract, but what has the Brazilian actually done in his time at the club to deserve this?
The plain fact is this: Aurelio (aka Mr Glass) is injury prone. Click to continue reading...

Yes, that is a serious question. Two players who 'offer more than just goals' as strikers. But how much more? Who would you rather have? Fortunately a member of the Football365 Forum (lol tb x) has done the analysis for us. Read on to see who comes out on top...

A comparison of their goals and assists since Tevez came here:

This is obviously an area where Tevez should win by a margin having played with some of the best players in the world.

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RSL and Chicago are going to square off on Saturday in a match where the Fire of Chicago have the unenviable task of playing the one team in the entire that no one wants a piece of anymore. If you asked me this is the perfect storm for the boys from Salt Lake and the worst storm for the Windy City squad.

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Butt Buddies
Chelsea's captain Frank Lampard picked up a thigh injury while training today and will be out of England's friendly with Brazil this weekend.
Lampard has been a hot topic for us this season - he started off incredibly slow, but then finally scored from open play a few weeks ago and has been on fire ever since. Click to continue reading...

Houston travels to L.A. on Friday to take on the Galaxy for the Western Conference crown. This is the matchup of all matchups. The two best teams in the West (which makes it all the more funny that RSL is in the East and yet the city is farther west than Houston, but who's counting really?

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Life without Epl really Sucks!!!!!!.... Can't help it though.... Its like you are stuck in a big time Machine .... I hope time passes quickly.... But hope is all I can do .
Anywayz there's no significant news regarding Arsenal . However Cesc has been choose EA sports player of the month . Click to continue reading...

Luis Fabiano

What can be said about Luis Fabiano? The guy is red hot and he and everyone else in La Liga is perfectly aware of this fact. Fabiano scored two goals this weekend against the Yellow Submarines and Sevilla edged out the blossoming squad 3-2 thanks to the offensive performance from the Brazilian.

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The Metro Reverse Curse lives.

What is the Reverse Curse? It is a temporary suspension of all footballing ability while wearing a Metro Bull kit that is magically cured once a player switches kits to another club. There are so many examples of this, but sticking to recent memory (and not in any order of importance at all); Hunter Freeman leaves Red Bull and has become a regular starter in Norway, Gabriel Cichero leaves Red Bull and becomes a valuable piece of their National teams youth movement, Mike Magee has proven to be a key offensive cog in the Galaxy's overall make up leading the team in assists, Diego Jimenez continues to excel in Mexico, and notched two goals upon arriving back to his country after his RB departure.

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Photo by ISIphotos.com

In one of the easier results to see coming, Seattle Sounders striker Fredy Montero was named MLS Newcomer of the Year. He beat out Sounders teammates Kasey Keller and Freddie Ljungberg for the honor.

Montero scored 12 goals and added seven assists in helping lead the Sounders to the playoffs.

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Photo by ISIphotos.com

In one of the easier results to see coming, Seattle Sounders striker Fredy Montero was named MLS Newcomer of the Year. He beat out Sounders teammates Kasey Keller and Freddie Ljungberg for the honor.

Montero scored 12 goals and added seven assists in helping lead the Sounders to the playoffs.

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Forgive my prolonged absence. It is absolutely unpardonable, though fact is that the average arsefan has had so much more than just my small space to keep them entertained over the past couple of weeks which have been fantastic. The Arsenal has posted its Q1 results and they have been emphatic.

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So we comfortably dispatched of Wolves in the end, the first 20 minutes or so were a little nervy but Diaby picked up a calf strain bringing Alex Song into the fray, we never looked back as minutes later one of two slightly fortuitous goals was scored.

The final two goals were class though, the first involved a lung busting run from Cesc Fabregas to get on the end of a move, his finish was coolness personified.

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Wolves 1 (Craddock 89) Arsenal 4 (Zubar og 28, Craddock og 36, Fabregas 45, Arshavin 66)
(Premiership)

Moving house and blogging is a tricky combination. Phone companies tend to ensure that you haven't got a hope of getting online during the first few weeks in the new place, and trying to write anything meaningful from a mobile is nigh on impossible.

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We've covered the forwards, and we've covered the front office. Heck, our front office results actually have been 100% correct so far, with Tom Soehn leaving the team and Kasper and Payne set to return. We'll have to wait a while to find out if our forward results are correct, but in the meantime, let's see what everyone has to say about our attacking midfielders. Click to continue reading...

Chicago defeated the Revolution 2-0 to advance to the Eastern Conference Final of the MLS Cup Playoffs where they will have the privilege of hosting RSL (A.K.A. The team no one wants right now) on Saturday.

Chicago and RSL are walking two completely different paths to get to this point.

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Another home game, another win, another game with over three goals. Nearly three months into the season and we have not scored less than three goals in a home game in any competition, it shows just how strong we have been at home this season and any team visiting the Grove will be aware of this record and aware of how strong the squad we have is.

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The UEFA Europa League had another full set of matches on Thursday, November 5, 2009. There were a few Americans involved including Clint Dempsey for EPL club Fulham and Tim Howard with EPL club Everton. Both loss as the teams struggled. Here's a recap of Americans Abroad in the Europa League in the Europa League.

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The 4-1 thumping of Alkmaar in midweek was an immensely satisfying affair, a triumph of footballing philosophy over the defensive nous of coaches such as Ronald Koeman, and yet another demonstration that this Arsenal team is serious about combining footballing beauty with tangible success.

But prior the the match, there was a definite sense of relaxation amongst the fans, as if the game really didn't matter, so assured was our progress regardless of the result.

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We haven't done this for a while here are our best three picks for this week and the weeks ahead... Although we make no assurances they will be successful.

1. David Dunn

He's fat, he's round, he's only five point seven million pound... David Dunn. By a margin Blackburn's outstanding performer this season, Dunn has already notched four goals, and in only seven appearances.

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With such blistering pace at just 4.5M, I'd have a silly grin on my face too
Our Funny Feeling Friday this week is Arsenal's left back Kieran Gibbs. With starting left back Gael Clichy out for a month or more with a stress fracture in his lower back, Gibbs should take over the starting spot and comes with the price tag (4. Click to continue reading...

Several weeks ago IMS reported on Minnesota native Teal Bunbury, who played for the Rochester Thunder PDL team this past summer and plays his fall soccer for the University of Akron.

The Zips (17-0-0) are the No. 1 team in the country in all five national polls. Bunbury scored yet again yesterday just 3:18 into the first half with a 20-yard chip shot.

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Several weeks ago IMS reported on Minnesota native Teal Bunbury, who played for the Rochester Thunder PDL team this past summer and plays his fall soccer for the University of Akron.

The Zips (17-0-0) are the No. 1 team in the country in all five national polls. Bunbury scored yet again yesterday just 3:18 into the first half with a 20-yard chip shot.

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Andrey Arshavin is the man of the match against AZ Alkmaar in the Emirates Stadium yesterday. The Russian playmaker exuded class whenever he pushed forward and had provide assists to three of Arsenal's four goals. Arsenal beat AZ Alkmaar 4-1 in the Champions League game and are likely to qualify for the 2nd round of the competition. Click to continue reading...

Two more goals from Didier Drogba – who now has 12 goals from 13 appearances this season – were only slightly tarnished by Aguero's injury time equaliser last night. Chelsea are safely through to the knockout stages of the Champions League, and a rusty performance at the Vicente Calderon will be forgotten should Chelsea up the ante against United at the weekend.

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Two more goals from Didier Drogba – who now has 12 goals from 13 appearances this season – were only slightly tarnished by Aguero's injury time equaliser last night. Chelsea are safely through to the knockout stages of the Champions League, and a rusty performance at the Vicente Calderon will be forgotten should Chelsea up the ante against United at the weekend.

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