Awwwww, Major League Soccer. If anyone should be an MLS fan it should be me. I grew up playing the sport; I love watching the sport; I've covered the sport at the high school, college and professional level; I have a blog called IntelligentSoccer.com. If the MLS can't win me over there's something seriously wrong.

photo credit: Nigel Wilson

Fernando Torres has scored twelve goals in fifteen matches this year. In other words he is reeling Liverpool's only hope at landing in the top four by season's end. And it is just fitting for the Reds that their only hope at salvaging their year just went down a week back with a devastating knee injury.

So, will he or won't he?

Will Landon Donovan, now on loan at Everton, get on the field at the Emirates this weekend?

He's easily the most polarizing figure in American soccer and the debate on whether he's the best player ever to pull on a national team shirt or a spoiled kid that doesn't care about the game enough to reach his full potential can be saved for another post.

Perhaps I'm overstating things slightly to say that my new home town team, the Atlanta Beat, are the WPS version of Real Madrid. After all, the Beat are so new they have yet to even hold a practice. So, I'll agree I'm overstating things. Slightly.
From where I'm sitting the Beat appear to be about to take over the world.

With the end of 2009 lots of people are putting together lists on the "best of the decade" stuff. Soccer America has put out their MLS All-Decade team. The Wizards are represented pretty well on the list, with 2 current and 2 former Wizards on the team.
The only representative on the Best XI team is the Wizards current captain, Jimmy Conrad.

photo credit: vramak

1 ) Cesc Fabregas

Not only is Cesc Fabregas the best player 22 & Under, but he might be the best midfielder in the entire Premier League. I apologize to all the Lampard and Gerrard fans out there, but what Fabregas is doing this year is incredible and it is no coincidence that Barcelona is salavating over purchasing the young star.

photo credit: prettyfriendship

1) Lionel Messi/Barcelona

The twenty two year old is not only the best young player in all of La Liga, but the Argentine forward/winger is flat out the best player in all of the world. Make no mistake about it.

This past week, Cristiano Ronaldo made a pretty bold statement: ""I have an ambition to become the best player in history." Big words. Especially when Argentine mega mite Lionel Messi just took home the Ballon D'Or as the best player of 2009. Inevitably, these two mega talents have not only defined today's game [.

photo credit: terren in Virginia

Well they say it isn't over until the fat lady sings, but for now I will spare you all the entrance of Rosie O'Donell and instead we will evaluate the first half of the season and try to figure out who will most likely take home some of the most coveted awards known and recognised by the football world.

photo credit: Rick212

Out of all of the major football leagues in all of the world, nobody has made as many headlines as La Liga has this season. The rage all started before the year had even begun when three of the world's biggest footballers (Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Kaka) all joined the Spanish league in mega multi-million dollar moves.

So its the day after the Leeds United humiliation, and many disappointments are apparent for many reasons. Happy new year NOT
The turn of the decade has started with many stating the dreaded word when used in reference to a football team.
"Transition"
Yep, I've heard it several times now.

photo credit: zugaldia

The Team: South Africa will be the other 31 nation's hospitable host during the upcoming 2010 World Cup. Well, at least we all hope so. Sure, there were fears that this nation would never be ready for the World's biggest tourney, but as of the writing of this post everything seems to be on schedule.

photo credit: TheAlieness GiselaGiardino²³

Lyon's Manager Claude Puel has ruled out making any moves during the January transfer period and I'm here to ask "Why?"

I understand that the economy all over the world sucks right now and that there are teams that can't even make payroll, but I don't think Lyon is one of them and you would think that they would want to build on their past successes.

Everyone would agree that the Manchester United engine hasn't run too smoothly this season. It's been a bumpy ride, many believing that the Red Devils are simply not the same without Cristiano Ronaldo. Others have blamed Sir Alex, and a small minority has bizarrely called for the sack.

Butt's real buddies...
In breaking news of consequence only to Newcastle fans, Manchester United fans, and us, 34 year old midfielder Nicky Butt has announced that he is considering retirement.
Butt has been the inspiration for this footie blog - a gathering of analysis primarily on the Fantasy Premier League and EPL in general, but also on world football, sports trends, and other topics.

As promised, albeit stupidly late, a Q&A with the guys over at Joys and Sorrows, the Birmingham City blog, written ahead of our pre-Christmas clash at Goodison. The game, if you didn't already know finished 1-1 with Seb Larsson canceling out Billy's early goal. It was a match Everton perhaps should have won, but McCleish' men have a new steel about them this season and effectively repelled Everton's increasingly agricultural attacks.

After weeks of rally and support, it has now emerged that River Plate's promising midfielder, Diego Buonanotte may be discharged from the hospital in two days following his horrifying car accident which claimed the lives of his three friends.

"He's a very peaceful guy, he's not a "night-man" and he was not drunk.

This picture is awesome! Get your hands off of Coach's Heine!
So the MLS Draft combine and Superdraft are coming up and I am in no way an expert on college players or their potential ability at the professional level. I have viewed the many mock drafts and kind of assessed in my mind who I would like for our team, but who does everyone else hope we end up with?

An Indonesian fan with pace and dribbling but poor finishing skills. Community building in El Salvador. (Never Captain Nicky Butt) These players...so hot right now. (Soccer Training Info) Arguably the best player website/song ever. (Dirty Tackle) US Training sessions now to be held with Aris. (Avoiding The Drop) Shakhtar Donetsk sign the next big Brazilian thing.

Good morning from Dublin where it's currently -5. This is ridiculous now. The only way this can be deemed in any way acceptable is if we get three months of scorching temperatures in the summer. If we don't, well, someone's going to have to pay.

As we head into the second week of the transfer window with ne'er a penny being spent, Ivan Gazidis has reassured fans we won't be spending much anyway.

So Man Citeh have signed one of our hero's from the last 13 years.. Old Paddy, but not the Paddy of old..

I don't want to tell the Man Citeh fans that he won't be anything like the Paddy we knew and worshipped, I told a Citeh fan that Ade was a lazy tosser and give him six months he would go back to his lazy offside ways.

In case you missed it, Thad over at The Back Post has another interview with Peter Vermes posted up over at his blog in 2 Parts. Part 1 of the interview is spent focusing mainly on the upcoming SuperDraft. Vermes talks about the teams college scouting techniques, how they do their background work before the combine via scouting, playing college teams, dvd, tv, and other means.

Martin Petrov had spoken previously of his frustration at the lack of opportunities under Mark Hughes, and has reiterated this feeling with these comments as reported in this article in The Mail:

‘I was frustrated with Mark Hughes as the manager and maybe I didn't handle it very well.

Soccer America re-emphasizes that United simply cannot draft by position, and must take the best player possible.

D.C. UNITED. The attack will need shoring up whether or not Luciano Emilio and/or Christian Gomez find other employment. Chris Pontius and Santino Quaranta are good starting points but neither is a striker like Emilio.

By Walter Broeckx Thomas Vermaelen has been voted best Belgian football player outside Belgium. Every year in Belgium we have the election of the golden boot. It is the election by reporters and trainers of the best player in the Belgian league. I must admit I hardly take notice of this election as football in my country doesn't [.

Alex Song has cemented his place in the Arsenal team as our defensive midfield rock but unfortunately for us he is away doing his duty for Cameroon in the African Cup of Nations.
Whilst he is in Africa Denilson was expected to replace him in the side. At the moment the little Brazilian is injured and will miss the game against Bolton tomorrow.

Count MSNBC TV host Joe Scarborough among the growing number of people who think Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez should be fired.

With Liverpool's season seemingly getting worse each week, it was a bit of a surprise to see Scarborough, the host of Morning Joe on MSNBC, mention Benitez on his Twitter account.

Portuguesa enjoy the afternoon against São Paulo

34 goals flew in in the opening round of the Campeonato Paulista 2010.

The highest score was at the Palestra Itália were Palmeiras hammered Mogi Mirim 5-1. Diego Souza struck twice. Léo, the on-loan centreback from Grêmio, Robert and Cleiton Xavier also hit the net.

The world's best player ensured Barca avenged the Coppa del Rey exit at the hands of Sevilla when he scored two goals in the 4-0 rout of the Rojiblancos. Lionel Messi not only helped the Catalan club thump Sevilla but also made sure the lead over Real Madrid got extended to a comfortable five points.

By Chris Wright

No wonder his knees are knackered

Some fantastic news coming through today if you're an Everton fan or just a fan of talented footballers in general. After nearly a year out with a cruciate ligament injury, Mikel Arteta has finally restarted training on a full time basis and is edging closer and closer to a full team comeback.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

The biggest trade of the MLS offseason was finalized on Thursday, with Colorado and New England completing a deal that had been rumored for some time.

The Colorado Rapids and New England Revolution have completed a deal that will send defender Cory Gibbs and goalkeeper Preston Burpo to the Revolution in exchange for Wells Thompson and the rights to Jeff Larentowicz will go to the Rapids, the Boston Herald reported on Thursday evening.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

The biggest trade of the MLS offseason was finalized on Thursday, with Colorado and New England completing a deal that had been rumored for some time.

The Colorado Rapids and New England Revolution have completed a deal that will send defender Cory Gibbs and goalkeeper Preston Burpo to the Revolution in exchange for Wells Thompson and the rights to Jeff Larentowicz will go to the Rapids, the Boston Herald reported on Thursday evening.

Xavi and Iniesta

In part 1 of this series discussing why Barcelona will be challenging for Champions League glory for many years to come I discussed Barcelona's world class youth academy. Now its time to discuss two players who came through that academy and make up the heart of Barca's success in the past year.

Could the words "Like a phoenix from the ashes" be uttered by Manchester United players, supporters and financial nerds as the club and current Premier League Champions seem to be on the brink of turning an almost tumultuous season around? Recent happenings at Old Trafford seem to be more conclusive and surefooted than those of the past few weeks and months.

There were rumors this week that Sampdoria striker Antonio Cassano and manager Gigi Delneri had been involved in a training ground bust-up with shouting and Cassano had even threatened to never play again all season. Of course these were all unconfirmed rumors so we don't really know what went on.

Barcelona have yet to suffer a defeat in la Liga and will complete half of their season's fixtures this weekend. In 18 matches played, the Catalans have won a remarkable 14 matches and drawn the remaining four games. Barca have the best defensive record with a mere 10 goals conceded and have scored a league high 46 goals.

photo credit: davidgsteadman

1) Lionel Messi

Last year's MVP, Lionel Messi, is the best player in the world. The captain of the treble winners is the joint leader in both goals scored and assists this season. That not only makes him the highest point earner so far this year, but he also plays for the best club in La Liga.

Last year Chris Henderson had to find 24 players players to craft a winning expansion side. This year, he had to find less players and I started off asking if that helped him focus.

Chris Henderson: Last year was very unique, we needed every position. But this year we could focus our time and our energy.

Galácticos (or superstars) is a Spanish term used to describe expensive, world-famous football players, having either positive or negative connotations. This term came into use to describe the policy pursued in the first tenure of Florentino Pérez's presidency at Real Madrid, where he purchased at least one galáctico in the summer of every year.

This other-big-four column after a really long time is brought to you by Aswin. A fellow Man Utd and Azzurri supporter. A man who has been through the full boom and bust cycle of the Serie A and prefers walking in the Rajasthan desert in the afternoon with winter clothes on, to Liverpool's football.