Chicago Fire original CJ Brown played in his last professional soccer game on October 23, 2010. Both Brown and teammate Brian McBride had announced their retirements days earlier. Chicago was already eliminated from the playoffs going into the game. Prior to kick-off the players knew it was going to be only the second time in the club's history that the Fire did not make the playoffs.

Fulham midfielder Clint Dempsey has made it clear that he would like his long-term future to be at a club with Champions League aspirations, alerting many potential suitors to make a move for the U.S. international.

Dempsey has scored nine goals in 22 matches so far this season, with his most recent accomplishment being a remarkable hat-trick the first for an American in the Premier League against Newcastle United.

Photo: Paul Rudderow

Le Talk

Yesterday he's going, today he is staying. An article from sportinglife.com suggests that Le Toux "did not impress sufficiently" at Bolton. Owen Coyle is quoted in the article, "Sebastien came in for a couple of days, and to be fair to him he hadn't trained for four or five weeks.

Well, this probably isn't an objective statement, but the Chicago Fire really have started off 2012 well...just in the same way that Quaker Oats breakfast products are a great way to start the day!

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

In all seriousness though, I can't remember a sponsorship providing such a boost to a club in general and to a fan base in particular.

Former Chicago Fire defender Wilman Conde wants back in Major League Soccer. This isn't news. It has been floating around for awhile now. What has changed is it now appears that a Major League Soccer team wants him back in the league as well. In fact, the New York Red Bulls have reportedly purchased his rights.

The Legend of Clint Dempsey continues to grow at Craven Cottage.

Just over a month removed from eclipsing Brian McBride's record 36 career goals scored by an American in the English Premier League, the former Revolution midfielder pulled the trigger three times in a 4-0 FA Cup tournament victory over Charlton Athletic on Saturday.

First, let us be among many, but hopefully not the last, to wish all our readers a Happy New Year. We wish you blessings, good fortune and health in 2012. We begin a comprehensive look at the Men's U-23 Olympic Team this week, and we're very excited about those pieces given our background as a [...]

We're in the holiday spirit here at the Free Beer Movement. For us, it means more time off, a return to the FBM motherland (Wisconsin), and a chance to try all sorts of tasty Midwest brews.
That doesn't mean we've jumped away from our soccer minds, though. Our little ditty covers some of the biggest American soccer stories of 2011 and a few hopes for 2012 and you may recall the ditty as "The Twelve Days of Christmas".

Dempsey faces a fight to stay in the Europa League. Fulham must get a result at home over Odense.

As the final matchday of the Europa League group stages approaches Wednesday and Thursday, so does the best chance to see Americans in action overseas on a TV near you. And with some of the Americans' teams in danger of crashing out of Europa, it may be the last chance for a while.

Heartbreaker, Record-breaker...

Once again Monday, it was Liverpool.

And given that Liverpool in some ways now represents the "English" hope as the home country Premiership super club, perhaps it was again appropriate.

And again, the conductor was Clint Dempsey with the symphonic high note on a little flick of his be-cleated baton.

Clint Dempsey scored the only goal in Fulham's 1-0 victory over Liverpool at Craven Cottage last night, breaking Brian McBride's record to become the top American scorer in EPL history. His former club, New England Revolution, tweeted their congratulations to the USMNT player after the goal, which takes his EPL tally to 37.

By Chris Wright

After entering the game tied with Brian McBride on 36 goals, Clint Dempsey became the highest-scoring American player in Premier League history when, in the 85th-minute, he pounced on Pepe Reina's fumble to tap home the winner for Fulham at Craven Cottage.

By Chris Wright

After entering the game tied with Brian McBride on 36 goals, Clint Dempsey became the highest-scoring American player in Premier League history when, in the 85th-minute, he pounced on Pepe Reina's fumble to tap home the winner for Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Clint Dempsey drove home a rebound in the 85th minute to deliver Fulham a 1-0 win against Liverpool, only their third victory of the season. [WATCH HERE]
Deuce now has 37 career goals in the English Premier League, a record for a U.S. international in England, surpassing former Fulham striker Brian McBride.

Photo Credit: AFPThe Deuce was on the loose this afternoon after the Nagadoches (Texas) native bagged a rebound goal to give his Fulham side a 1-0 victory over Liverpool. The goal, Dempsey's 37th in England makes him the all-time leading goal scorer for Yanks in England. Brian McBride, who also played for Fulham (and one of the stadiums bars is named after) now sits in second with 36 goals.

Clint Dempsey's legend at Fulham continues to grow with every goal he scores.

The Texas native did it again on Monday, scoring an 85th-minute winner for Fulham in a 1-0 victory over Liverpool. Minutes after hitting the crossbar with a bending effort from the top of the area, Dempsey found himself in perfect position to slot home a spilled rebound by Pepe Reina from close range.

Clint Dempsey and Fulham own the Monday Premier League spotlight, welcoming Liverpool to Craven Cottage (3 p.m., ESPN2/ESPN3.com).

Fulham is in need of a result to get a bit more separation from the relegation zone and make its way toward a mid-table standing. Liverpool, meanwhile, will take to the field without central midfield stalwart Lucas for the first time since he suffered a season-ending knee injury.

We're not fully one-third through the season, but it's a boring international break—and mostly a meaningless one at that!—so why not open the floor to a good honest debate in our 2012 Third of Season Awards: Readers Poll!

Please post your thoughts in the comments section, and also feel free to make up your own award and recipient.

Clint Dempsey has been voted the Futbol de Primera USA national-team player of the year for the second time - the last time being way back in 2006.He got 375 points and 99 first place votes .The also rans were Tim Howard - second with 252 points and Landycakes - third with 191 points.
Dempsey scored four goals in 12 games in the U.

The AP reports that Clint Dempsey has been voted the Futbol de Primera U.S. national team player of the year award for the second time.
The 28-year-old midfielder and forward received 375 points and 99 first-place votes in balloting by media released Wednesday. Dempsey also won the award in 2006.

When Clint Dempsey scored for Fulham in the 2-0 victory over Wigan this weekend, he tied the record of former U.S. international Brian McBride as all-time highest American goal scorer in England's top flight.

Dempsey now has 36 league goals in his Premiership career. Only the most down and out gambler would bet against him extending that onward and upward.

Dempsey's achievements at Fulham continue to soar
With the game-winner in Fulham's 2-0 victory at Wigan that secured the first road win of the campaign for the Cottagers, Clint Dempsey added to his increasingly impressive English Premier League resume. His 36th career goal tied Brian McBride for the most-ever by a U.

By FRANCO PANIZO

If you saw Clint Dempsey score in Fulham's game against Wigan Athletic on Saturday, you didn't just see him hit a winner.

You saw him make history.

Dempsey's first-half strike in Fulham's 2-0 win versus Wigan gave him 36 league goals in his Premiership career, tying the U.

Dempsey has Produced throughout his Career for the National Team
Clint Dempsey has proven himself a consistent goal scorer throughout his eight year career with the national team. He debuted in 2004, playing 25 minutes as a sub and in every year since he's managed to score at least two goals.

I wrote for SI.com this morning about Jurgen Klinsmann and his biggest challenge ahead: identifying that final 10 percent, that little "something extra" from a talented young group that still clearly needs some seasoning.

Anecdotally, we can all see that something is surely missing, that extra sliver of quality that makes the difference at the highest level.

Fulham under Chris Coleman a few years ago was affectionately called Fulhamerica because of the distinct American look to that squad. Now only Clint Dempsey is left from the days of Brian McBride and Carlos Bocanegra.

It's Rangers who are now providing the welcome mat for Americans.

The last time D.C. United came to Toyota Park was on October 16, 2010. It was Brian McBride's last home game and it turned out to be C.J. Brown's last home game too. 306 days is a long time but it feels even longer ago, more distant. The lineup for that game was Andrew Dykstra; Steve Kinney, Wilman Conde, Kwame Watson-Siriboe, Deris Umanzor; Bratislav Ristic, Logan Pause, Peter Lowry, Marco Pappa; Brian McBride, Patrick Nyarko.

The New York Cosmos will take to the field for the first time in more than 25 years, doing so at Old Trafford as Manchester United's opponent for the Paul Scholes Testimonial (2:30 p.m., Fox Soccer Channel).

The Cosmos, who will be coached by former United star and current Cosmos director of soccer Eric Cantona, will be featuring the likes of Brad Friedel, Brian McBride, Patrick Vieira, Gary Neville, Robbie Keane, Sol Campbell, Fabio Canavarro, Michel Salgado, Dwight Yorke, Wayne Bridge, Robert Pires and Nicky Butt along with members of the organization's U-23 team.

United (from): De Gea, Kuszczak, Lindegaard, Amos; Evra, Jones, Ferdinand, Smalling, Vidic, Fabio, Rafael, Evans; Anderson, Giggs, Park, Carrick, Nani, Scholes, Young, Fletcher, Valencia, Obertan, Gibson, Cleverley, Pogba, Norwood, Morrison; Owen, Berbatov, Rooney, Welbeck, Macheda, Diouf.

On Saturday, the U.S. and CONCACAF all learned their opponents in upcoming World Cup qualifying and just what the road to Brazil 2014 will look like.
Some got a favorable draw while others didn't. And still others were handed a somewhat difficult task.
Group A: United States, Jamaica, (likely) Guatemala, (likely) Haiti.

by Thomas Atzenhoffer on The Bleacher Report
Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images In what has been a landmark season for Clint Dempsey, the American forward continues to make a name for himself in the English Premier League.
Following a 2010 appearance in the UEFA Europa League, Fulham had high hopes for success this EPL season.

Come for the Brian McBride induction into the Crew Circle of Honor:

"Guille noticed a small crowd and turned around and saw Brian, who had basically just finished signing autographs and was ready to head off with Dina and his kids. Guille came over, with his hand extended and a genuine smile on his face, and said to Brian "Congratulations!

By Chris Wright

...for Paul Scholes' testimonial at Old Trafford on August 5th.

MWUHAHAHAHAHA!!!

The Cosmos' Pele-assembled, 17-man squad in full:

Nicky Butt, Sol Campbell, Fabio Cannavaro, Brad Friedel, Robbie Keane, Brian McBride, Gary Neville, Michel Salgado, Patrick Vieira and seven U23 Cosmos players; Chad Calderone, Ibrahim Diaby, Stefan Dimitrov, David Diosa, Marvin Iraheta, Dane Murphy, Yanik Reyering, Moriken Sangary.

Former U.S. men's national team stars Brian McBride and Brad Friedel will be among the list of standouts who will suit up for the New York Cosmos in the Paul Scholes Testimonial Match against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Aug. 5th (on Fox Soccer Channel).

Scholes will be playing in his final match for Manchester United, ending one of the most impressive careers in the club's storied history, and the New York Cosmos is putting together a star-studded squad to face Scholes and United in that final match.

So here it is. The first non-youth team that will don the colors of the fabled NY Cosmos since the Reagan administration. What do you think? There's some great old names there like Fabio Cannavaro, Brian McBride and Brad Friedel but there's quite a lot of young blood from the academy.
Sure, they'll most likely be sacrificial lambs for Paul Scholes' going out party but hey, there are worst things to achieve as a young American soccer player than playing alongside Patrick Vierea and Gary Neville against Manchester United at Old Trafford wearing the same kit that Pele & Beckenbauer wore.

Paul Scholes. Not just a fan's favourite, judging by the star studded cast lining up to play in his testimonial. Image: Reuters/Daylife

Last night, during Manchester United's 7-0 tonking of Seattle Sounders, the The New York Cosmos released their roster of footballers who will be gracing the Old Trafford pitch for Paul Scholes' upcoming testimonial.

The Columbus Crew inducted U.S. National Team forward Brian McBride into their "Circle of Honor" at a halftime ceremony during last Saturday's match against the San Jose Earthquakes.
McBride was the first pick in the inaugural Major League Soccer draft and played eight seasons, and scoring 62 goals, for the yellow and black before moving to the English Premier League and playing for Fulham in 2004.

The Columbus Crew inducted U.S. National Team forward Brian McBride into their "Circle of Honor" at a halftime ceremony during last Saturday's match against the San Jose Earthquakes.
McBride was the first pick in the inaugural Major League Soccer draft and played eight seasons, and scoring 62 goals, for the yellow and black before moving to the English Premier League and playing for Fulham in 2004.

By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (July 15, 2011) US Soccer Players -- When Brian McBride steps onto the field at Crew Stadium in Columbus this Saturday night, it will be in his relatively new position of former player. McBride will be in Columbus so that he can be the first player inducted into the Crew's Circle of Honor at halftime during their game against the San Jose Earthquakes.

Manchester United star Wayne Rooney will be getting his first taste of an MLS club on Wednesday night at Gillette Stadium when his team faces the New England Revolution (8 pm, ESPN, ESPN Deportes), but that didn't stop him from making a bold prediction about the future of America's top-flight league.