By Andrew Villegas Is MLS becoming the "no-brainer" league for middling Americans abroad? In February, when Charlie Davies was deciding if he wanted to take his comeback tour to D.C., he called U.S. Men's National Team Coach Bob Bradley to see what Bradley had to say about joining D.C. United on loan.

You'd think footballers have it all, but as Santino Quaranta's salary surprisingly reminded us, pay scales weren't created equal and thus, MLS players probably don't have it all.

When it comes to everyday household items like whisks and serving trays, 'ballers everywhere should leave the heavy clicking to their better halves, just like New England's Benny Feilhaber seems to have smartly done with his fiancé, Michele.

There are plenty of reasons to not like the Allocation system. It is inherently an anti-capitalistic way of talent dispersal and forced parity. What is often ignored, are some of the advantages of the system. Take today's Benny Feilhaber saga where one of 18 teams has a shot at getting the dynamic attacking midfielder.

Photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com

Eddie Johnson is the latest U.S. national team player to return to MLS.

On a conference call with reporters, MLS executive vice president of competition Todd Durbin announced that the 27-year-old former FC Dallas and Kansas City striker has signed with the league and will go through the allocation order to be assigned to a team.

LINEUP AND NOTESUSA: 1-Tim Howard; 6-Steve Cherundolo, 21-Clarence Goodson, 3-Carlos Bocanegra (capt.), 14-Eric Lichaj; 4-Michael Bradley, 13-Jermaine Jones; 22-Alejandro Bedoya, 16-Sacha Kljestan, 8-Clint Dempsey; 17-Jozy AltidoreUSA Subs: 7-Maurice Edu, 9-Juan Agudelo, 10-Landon Donovan, 12-Jonathan Bornstein, 14-Tim Ream, 20-Freddy Adu, 23-Marcus Hahnemann
PREGAME NOTES

• Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey returned to the team this morning after being excused from camp earlier this week to attend each of their sisters' weddings yesterday.

Image: MCFC.co.uk.

Saturday

- Jealous that their team-mates were getting their fair share of physically-bothersome advances whilst on tour, MCFC's Edin Dzeko and Alecks Kolarov decided it was time to ditch their shirts once and for all (during their club's beach party in L.

United States National Team coach Bob Bradley released his roster for the Argentina and Paraguay friendlies. "This is an important opportunity to get our core group together along with some relatively newer faces as we consider the roster decisions for the Gold Cup this summer," Bradley said. "We have not had these players together for quite some time, so this is a great chance to get in a solid week of training and then face two quality opponents in Argentina and Paraguay.

Despite some serious interest from the Houston Dynamo, the New England Revolution has decided to pass on trade offers and will instead keep midfielder Benny Feilhaber.

The Revs acquired Feilhaber via the Allocation Process on Tuesday after Chivas USA and Philadelphia passed.

Image via Interview.

Prepare the cocktail weiners and stock up on cheap champagne, Kickettes, because we're throwing a homecoming bash for Benny Feilhaber.

One of our favourite fuzzy Americans has just signed with the MLS (from Danish team AGF Aarhus) to play with the New England Revolution and could make his debut this weekend when the Revs take on Sporting Kansas City.

He's back babydolls! (Getty Images)

Wow, just wow. Most expected a pretty straight forward roster announcement today by Bob Bradley but what came out was anything but expected.

Goalkeepers (3):
Marcus Hahnemann
Tim Howard
Nick Rimando

Defenders (8):
Carlos Bocanegra
Jonathan Bornstein
Steve Cherundolo
Eric Lichaj
Clarence Goodson
Oguchi Onyewu
Tim Ream
Jonathan Spector

Midfielders (9):
Freddy Adu
Michael Bradley
Clint Dempsey
Landon Donovan
Maurice Edu
Benny Feilhaber
Jermaine Jones
Sacha Kljestan
Robbie Rogers

Forwards (3):
Juan Agudelo
Jozy Altidore
Chris Wondolowski

Thoughts:

1.

There were plenty of familiar faces, but also some surprising inclusions on the U.S. national team's Gold Cup roster.

Here is the squad:

GOALKEEPERS-Tim Howard, Nick Rimando, Marcus Hahnemann

DEFENDERS- Jonathan Spector, Carlos Bocanegra, Steve Cherundolo, Oguchi Onyewu, Eric Lichaj, Tim Ream, Jonathan Bornstein, Clarence Goodson,

MIDFIELDERS- Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu, Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, Sacha Kljestan, Robbie Rogers, Freddy Adu, Benny Feilhaber, Jermaine Jones

FORWARDS- Juan Agudelo, Chris Wondolowski, Jozy Altidore

What do you think of the squad?

Photo by ISIPhotos.com

The tradition of holding a January camp for mostly MLS players looking to break through into the U.S. naitonal team is going to be maintained during the Jurgen Klinsmann era and the German manager will be putting together his first January camp very shortly.

Soooooo... Chivas USA oddly passed and Philly Union much less mysteriously did the same, allowing the New England Revs to pluck U.S. playmaker Benny Feilhaber with the third allocation slot.They may apparently still trade him, but that kinda feels like Steve Nicol due diligence (I've heard Houston want Benny bad).

He's back babydolls! (Getty Images)

Wow, just wow. Most expected a pretty straight forward roster announcement today by Bob Bradley but what came out was anything but expected.

Goalkeepers (3):
Marcus Hahnemann
Tim Howard
Nick Rimando

Defenders (8):
Carlos Bocanegra
Jonathan Bornstein
Steve Cherundolo
Eric Lichaj
Clarence Goodson
Oguchi Onyewu
Tim Ream
Jonathan Spector

Midfielders (9):
Freddy Adu
Michael Bradley
Clint Dempsey
Landon Donovan
Maurice Edu
Benny Feilhaber
Jermaine Jones
Sacha Kljestan
Robbie Rogers

Forwards (3):
Juan Agudelo
Jozy Altidore
Chris Wondolowski

Thoughts:

1.

Bob Bradley just announced the USMNT roster for the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup which starts June 5th at Cowboys Stadium. The United States Men's National Team plays their first game in Detroit vs. Canada on June 7th. Join me after the break for the full roster and my thoughts.

U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (3): Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (8): Carlos Bocanegra (Saint-Etienne), Jonathan Bornstein (UANL Tigres), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Eric Lichaj (Leeds), Oguchi Onyewu (FC Twente), Tim Ream (New York Red Bulls), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Freddy Adu (Rizespor), Michael Bradley (Aston Villa), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Benny Feilhaber (New England Revolution), Jermaine Jones (Blackburn Rovers), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)
FORWARDS (3): Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls), Jozy Altidore (Bursaspor), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)

There are a couple of surprises for me.

And go...because I'm sure we'll have five more in about a week:

The promise of Bornstein continues....

5. Will a wrong-footed leftback be considered and can they be a difference maker?

The US leftback position hasn't been a star level since, well, since forever.

Last night's New England Revolution loss to the LA Galaxy was a frustrating, if predictable, example of the Revolution struggles of late.

Watching it in the afterglow of the UEFA Champions League Final yesterday, where an excellent Barcelona removed any doubts about their status as the best team on the earth, made for some interesting contrasts.

U.S. 1, Guadeloupe 0 a.k.a. Sunil Gulati's worst nightmare avoided. Not sure what to really say about this one without beating the same drum I've nearly wore a hole through since the beginning of June?Let's start positive, right? Jozy Altidore(*) scored a peach of a goal. Off the top of my head, the most aesthetically pleasing tally by an American since Benny Feilhaber at the 2007 Gold Cup.

After a disappointing two game homestand last week, the New England Revolution head out on the road for perhaps their toughest two game stretch of the season. The Revs face off against the Seattle Sounders on Sunday before taking on Real Salt Lake on July 4th. Both opponents currently sit in the top four of the MLS standings.

After each match the contributors to New England Soccer Today will rate the performances of the New England Revolution players who made an appearance on a 1 to 10 scale (1 horrendous, 5 average, 10 perfection). This week Sean Donahue contributed ratings for the Revs 3-1 loss to the Columbus Crew.

The Houston Dynamo announced today that centerback Geoff Cameron has been called into the US Men's National Team's annual January camp. This is a whole bundle of good news, the main piece being that the knee injury Cameron sustained in the first half of MLS Cup, the one that kept him from clearing Landon Donovan's chip for the game-winner (and we all know that absent the injury, that would have been cleared, right?

With the news that Benny Feilhaber is coming to MLS, likely with Chivas USA, this seems an appropriate time to remind everyone that there are a dozen or more national team selectees in leagues of lower quality than MLS, or playing irregularly. It is time to bring 'em back home.

The names are well-known.

Benny Feilhaber...After a career that spanned Germany, England and AGF Aarhus in Denmark, Feilhaber is returning to the US, to undertake a new beginning with MLS. Having fallen off the radar as of late with the US during friendlies despite some phenomenal outings, Feilhaber signed on the last day for international transfers, April 15th.

Today's allocation of United States men's national team midfielder Benny Feilhaber to the New England Revolution (pending any trades) has sparked discussion over which Yanks should return home to MLS. The Union, who passed on Feilhaber, are still sitting in the second spot in the league's allocation order, and as such they could grab a USMNT veteran of their own this summer.

For several years now, New England Revolution fans have had to sit and watch while other teams in MLS make major signings and bring in known quantities to bolster their ranks. Meanwhile, the Revs have relied on the draft and unknowns from across the globe as they struggled to replace departing top-level talent.

On May 21st, the Project 2010 Supercomputer was asked a question: Who should Bob Bradley take to the Gold Cup mathematically speaking? You can read its response here (and you can see the basis of its response here). The results ranged from expected to shocking. Now is the time to take a look back and separate the good from the bad, and the crazy from the crazy-like-a-fox.

The Philly Soccer Page " Preview: Philadelphia Union at Colorado Rapids

So, how do you follow up a six-goal explosion? You go on the road to play the league champs in their house, a year after they handed you a beating there last year.

Rock & Doop Viewing Party @ Kildare's in Manayunk | Section133 : The IllegitimateS

Section133: The IllegitimateS & The Beta Phase are PROUD to present the first ever Philadelphia Union : Rock & Doop Viewing Party at Kildare's in Manayunk.

With Benny Feilhaber unavailable due to injury, Alejandro Bedoya has been added to the Gold Cup roster. Bedoya joined the squad for last week's training camp. He came on as a second-half substitute against Spain on Saturday. The United States had until 24 hours before their opening game to change their Gold Cup roster.

Alejandro Bedoya has officially replaced Benny Feilhaber on the U.S. men's national team Gold Cup roster, U.S. Soccer announced Monday.

With Feilhaber sidelined for 3-6 weeks with an ankle injury, Bedoya will get a chance to play in his first tournament with the United States.

Mr. Tuesday will be along with a full re-cap tomorrow of the United States 2-0 win over Canada in Gold Cup Group Stage Game 1.

Bob, on it tonight...

• Bradley goes two traditional attack schemas and both work.

The first half saw the US deploy the "speed flank" of Steve Cherundolo, Landon Donovan and Juan Agudelo (with Jozy dragging across) on the right.

The New England Revolution are set to welcome the Reds of Toronto FC to Foxboro on Wednesday night for their second match in just four days. New England is coming off an improved but disappointing performance in New York on Saturday that saw them snap their 600+ minute scoreless streak from open play but still lose 2-1 after fluffing several gilt-edged scoring chances.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

KANSAS CITY, Kan. - If things would have gone as planned, Alejandro Bedoya would still be playing in Sweden with Orebro SK.

Things did not go as planned, however.

With Benny Feilhaber suffering an ankle injury prior to the Gold Cup, Bedoya was summoned by U.

There's no escaping it: the Revs have been bad this season. And not just bad in the generic, it's-not-their-year sense. No, it's much worse than that. They've been historically bad.

As of this morning, they're last in the league in goals scored (16), next-to-last in goal differential (-11), last in the Eastern Conference, and are on pace to finish with the fewest wins in team history (6), fewest goals scored (29), and are one loss or tie away from breaking the club record for longest winless streak (9).

U.S. Men's National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann today unveiled his first U.S. roster since taking over as manager last week. Klinsmann announced 22 players that will travel to Philadelphia to represent the United States against Mexico on August 10th.

The roster includes a mix of experienced veterans and newcomers to the National Team.

With the news that Freddy Adu has signed with Major League Soccer as a non-DP, it means the club snagged him via the allocation system. You know what that means, time for an update to the order.

Chivas USA still remains the top club while Philadelphia moves to the bottom.

Below is the current MLS Allocation Order.

This year has seen the return of many U.S. Men's National Team players to MLS. It's great for the league as these guys represent the pinnacle of what most soccer fans care about most: international glory. So when one returns to play in our home league it's a great boost to the fans of whichever team they happen to land in.

By FRANCO PANIZO

It took Herculez Gomez longer than he probably would have liked, but he scored his first goal of the Clausura campaign this weekend. And his second, too.

Gomez netted a brace in Pachuca's 3-0 victory over Chiapas, scoring the game-winner with a header before firing home a free kick.

The transfer deadline day has its long-awaited major splash.

According to his agent, Benny Feilhaber has signed with Major League Soccer and will be leaving AGF Aarhus in Denmark, where he has played since 2008. The representative for the U.S. men's national team midfielder, Lyle Yorks, said via Twitter, "Congrats to Benny Feilhaber--officially coming back to MLS!

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MLS recently announced the signing of Benny Feilhaber from AGF Aarhus of the Danish second division. Feilhaber has been a regular sub for the USMNT, often adding a needed jolt of energy to the midfield late in games. He was getting some playing time in Denmark, so this move may not have a huge impact on his role with the national team.