I didn't get to this yesterday, forgive me I was a bit under the weather. I talked last week about how Montreal Impact forward Brian Ching was doing with his stay in MLS's newest city. So far it seemed okay until yesterday took a turn for the...well...expected.

PRESEASON: Brian Ching has asked the club to leave training camp for a few days due to personal reasons #IMFC #MLSabout 23 hours ago via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite@impactmontrealImpact de Montréal

Yes, personal reasons.

I didn't get to this yesterday, forgive me I was a bit under the weather. I talked last week about how Montreal Impact forward Brian Ching was doing with his stay in MLS's newest city. So far it seemed okay until yesterday took a turn for the...well...expected.

PRESEASON: Brian Ching has asked the club to leave training camp for a few days due to personal reasons #IMFC #MLSabout 23 hours ago via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite@impactmontrealImpact de Montréal

Yes, personal reasons.

It seems like just yesterday the Dynamo played for the MLS Cup in Los Angeles, in fact it was only 66 days ago, but time waits for no one and the new season must get underway. Yesterday at the team's training facilities, the Dynamo did just that, kicking off the 2012 season with the opening of pre-season camp.

Now that the Brian Ching saga is over and done with we can now look back on what the Montreal Impact probably should have done instead of playing the hardball game with Ching and the Houston Dynamo.

Obviously getting just a conditional draft pick* isn't bad but for the most part it wasn't what Montreal and their fans would have expected in return for a player like Ching.

Now that the Brian Ching saga is over and done with we can now look back on what the Montreal Impact probably should have done instead of playing the hardball game with Ching and the Houston Dynamo.

Obviously getting just a conditional draft pick* isn't bad but for the most part it wasn't what Montreal and their fans would have expected in return for a player like Ching.

By J Hutcherson - WASHINGTON, DC (Jan 10, 2012) US Soccer Players -- Whatever happens on Thursday at Major League Soccer's SuperDraft (12pm ET - ESPN2), Montreal has already made the biggest player move. That happened in the expansion draft, when they opted against taking a player's wishes into account and used a pick on then-Houston forward Brian Ching.

The Houston Dynamo have always seemed to have a love-hate relationship with the MLS SuperDraft. In the franchise's early years in Houston, Dynamo Coach Dominic Kinnear seemed to have no qualms about trading away a top draft pick in order to obtain a player who filled a need or role right away for his squad.

The Houston Dynamo have always seemed to have a love-hate relationship with the MLS SuperDraft. In the franchise's early years in Houston, Dynamo Coach Dominic Kinnear seemed to have no qualms about trading away a top draft pick in order to obtain a player who filled a need or role right away for his squad.

via fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net

This release came from the Houston Dynamo at 10:30 a.m., about the same time he walked out to practice, probably the first and last time he'll be the last guy out to the field. Someone on Twitter said it best. All Dynamo newbies are about to get an object lesson on what it means to train and play the Dynamo Way.

I know, I know. Fuzion's doing the weekly Power Rankings for Dynamo Theory now? Yes. Yes, I sure as hell am. For the remainder of the 2012 MLS Season, I will bring you Power Rankings in a way only I can. Yes, that means hilarity and insanity on a weekly basis. Yes, that also means you have to endure my extremely tangent-oriented writing style, and my horrible ADHD thought processes each and every week.

The Dynamo continued their undefeated preseason (for what that's worse) with a 2-0 victory over the Montreal Impact. This was the first MLS competition Houston has faced this preseason and it's fitting it was against Brian Ching and Le Impact. Colin Clark and Cam Weaver both scored for the Dynamo.

Photo: Courtesy of Philadelphia Union

Philadelphia Union

A few minutes before the Union was to play University of Central Florida in a scrimmage on Wednesday, a message appeared on the club's Twitter account indicating that goal updates would be tweeted. A few minutes after that, the tweet was removed.

Brian Ching is back. It took months for the deal to happen, but the Montreal Impact and Houston Dynamo have finally come to terms that will allow league legend Brian Ching to return home to Houston. This allows the veteran to play with the Orange in the opening of their new stadium. It is a story that has been talked to death, but finally has a resolution.

Brian Ching is back. It took months for the deal to happen, but the Montreal Impact and Houston Dynamo have finally come to terms that will allow league legend Brian Ching to return home to Houston. This allows the veteran to play with the Orange in the opening of their new stadium. It is a story that has been talked to death, but finally has a resolution.

Former St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri player Will Bruin had one of his most productive Major League Soccer performances this past weekend. The 11th overall selection of the 2011 MLS SuperDraft for the first time recorded both a goal and an assist during the Houston Dynamo's 2-2 road draw against the Columbus Crew on Saturday at Crew Stadium.

With an orange lei and a Space City blue lei hanging around her neck, Stephanie Whalen beamed with pride as she toured BBVA Compass Stadium on Saturday afternoon before the inaugural match. Like most of the sellout crowd of 22,039, Whalen marveled at the House that Ching Built and shed more than a few tears, [.

Earlier last night, I was alerted to the recent Chron.com blog piece by Jose de Jesus Ortiz, and his idea to get Brian Ching back from the Montreal L'Impact. You can read the full blog piece here. In my time as a Dynamo Theory Blog writer (ok, I know I haven't been nearly as active as of late. I blame work), I've read over a ton of ideas about how to fix or better the team.

Featured image: Nicolae Stoian

We'll have updates of today's SuperDraft throughout the day as well as reaction to the Union's selection. On to the news...

Philadelphia Union

Ives Galarcep's mock draft at Fox Soccer has this to say: "The Union are believed to be shopping forward Danny Mwanga, and even with the recent addition of young Costa Rican forward Josue Martinez, Philadelphia can use some depth up top.

MLS lives by a simple creed, there is no such thing as too many drafts. Thus today we had our fourth draft of the off-season with the 2012 Supplemental Draft. This is essentially rounds 3-7 of the SuperDraft but in the interest of time, money and general interest, it's been split off in to its own event.

For a team that has lost (Brian Ching, Danny Cruz, Hunter Freeman, Carlo Costly) more than it has gained (Nathan Sturgis, draft picks, trialists) over the offseason, the Houston Dynamo might just find itself in an improved position once the 2012 season begins where the 2011 ended. And that would be without a single major offseason acquisition.

There are some stories in life and sports that force us to re-evaluate what is important. This is one of those stories. It is the story of a young man whose courage, determination and heart has touched the lives of professional athletes from all over Major League Soccer and beyond. Evan Mundine, a 13 year old boy from Texas has found a way to connect with athletes in the best ways possible.

There are some stories in life and sports that force us to re-evaluate what is important. This is one of those stories. It is the story of a young man whose courage, determination and heart has touched the lives of professional athletes from all over Major League Soccer and beyond. Evan Mundine, a 13 year old boy from Texas has found a way to connect with athletes in the best ways possible.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

The storyline that has been at the forefront of the MLS offseason appears to be on its way to reaching its resolution.

According to reports out of Houston, the Houston Dynamo are engaged in advanced talks with the Montreal Impact for a deal that would send former Dynamo captain and forward Brian Ching back to Houston.

According to JdJO's sources, a deal between the Impact and Dynamo has been reached to send Forward Brian Ching back to the Houston Dynamo. And exactly what did the Houston Dynamo give up to get him back? Was it Andre Hainault and a forward to be named later? Perhaps they gave up the newly acquired Kandji?

In trades, people often wonder which team got the better end of the deal. Heck, a Montreal radio reporter just asked me that question for his show. He didn't seem to like my answer. I said it was a win-win-win situation. He argued that fans in Montreal won't think the Impact won. I told him [...]

Photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com

The Montreal Impact tried their hand at picking a forward and getting trade value in return once again.

After picking Brian Ching from Houston in the expansion draft only to deal him back to the Dynamo for a draft pick, the Impact used their place atop the MLS allocation order to select Eddie Johnson before promptly dealing him to the Seattle Sounders.

We review Barcelona's 5-1 win over Valencia, paying special attention to Cesc Fabregas: Can he replace Xavi? If so, why was Pep so mad at him? We also debate Arsene Wenger's situation: Is it time he left? We go over the MLS trade-a-thon that was Brian Ching and Eddie Johnson's non-committal stay in Montreal, and we close out the show with a dramatic round of The Wikipedia Game.

Houston Dynamo past and present has been on parade over the last week. On the same day the reigning MLS MVP Dwayne De Rosario inked a new deal with DC United, the person those of us with an Orange persuasion consider the real 2011 MVP is back at work.

The Houston Chronicle is reporting that Brad Davis has been cleared by doctors for "all soccer activities.

Name: Houston Dynamo Head Coach: Dominic Kinnear 2011 Record: 12-9-13, 2nd Eastern Conference, 7th overall Twitter Hashtag: #HoustonDynamo The Dynamo are the defending Eastern Conference champions, but all the talk this offseason has been about other teams. That's not to say ...
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COUNTDOWN TO MLS 2012 - SEASON 17
STARTERS
Its the worst case scenario for Oguchi Onyewu. He left Sporting's game over the weekend with a knee injury and today it was announced that he has a ruptured ligament and torn meniscus and that will require surgery and around 8 weeks of rehab to recover from.

Power Rankings are nothing more than good fun, particularly in the pre-season. Taking fan support, previous season rankings, player movement and the SuperDraft into account, I took a shot.That said, here's how I see the Eastern Conference playing out.
1. Sporting Kansas City: This squad has done nothing but get better.

First of all, let's point out there is no such thing as an ugly win. Victories in professional sports are a lot like tax refunds you didn't expect. In other words, you'll take them whenever you can get them. "Six points is six points," Dominic Kinnear said. "It doesn't say 'ugly win' or 'dominating win' [.

By JOSE M. ROMERO

Two things David Estrada would like fans to know: He didn't come from nowhere to suddenly burst onto the Major League Soccer scene with his hat trick last Saturday, and he won't let three goals in a game go to his head.

"I'm not on top of the world," Estrada said.

One of the shames of the unbalanced schedule is that teams that were developing a strong on-field rivalry are now split apart. Houston Dynamo v Seattle Sounders FC matches birthed zombie Jaqua, the Dynamo were the first team to beat Seattle in the MLS Cup Playoffs and only the LA Galaxy have played Seattle more in the MLS era.

After three games this season, the Dynamo are still waiting for a goal from a forward. And that is just unacceptable. Heck, as a whole, the Dynamo have scored only two goals this season. One was on a penalty kick by Brad Davis. The other was scored by right back Andre Hainault. If not the [...]

The Dynamo have played five MLS matches in 2012, all on the road. They have 2 wins, 2 draws and a loss, for a total of eight points, good enough for fifth place in the Eastern Conference. If the playoffs started today, the Dynamo would be out...but they don't start today. There are still two matches until the home opener in the brand spankin' new BBVA Compass Stadium, but no matter what happens in those 180 minutes of soccer, things are looking good for Houston.

Here is a quick look at something that went down Thursday night. Members of the Texian Army, Brickwall Firm, El Bateria and others met at Orange Bar to discuss the formation of an independent supporters union, named the Walker End (the name of the street on the south end of the stadium where the supporters will be).

Their Words "We are gaining something out of every match it seems. As long as we aren't losing too many of these close games, you will see us improve each and every week." San Jose forward Alan Gordon. Other Sources Lady who built Brian Ching loves House that Ching Built - from The Houston Chronicle's Jose de Jesus Ortiz: "She was my first coach and now my biggest fan.

When the MLS schedule was set, Saturday's match between the Houston Dynamo and Los Angeles Galaxy looked to be a good rematch of the 2011 MLS Cup Final, and possibly a potential preview of the 2012 MLS Cup Final, but the Galaxy have been struggling, having only won 3 matches this season, and big names like Landon Donovan, Robbie Keane, and Geoff Cameron weren't available due to international call ups.

Kermit the Frog didn't give us the entire truth. While it might not be easy being green it seems even a touch more difficult being Forever Orange. Houston might be one of the more unlovable clubs in the league stretching back to 2006 with their origins birthed to the detriment of the city of San Jose and its an original MLS franchise.