Image courtesy of Daylife The 2008 Major League Soccer season came to a close just hours ago, with DC United's playoff hopes being crushed by the Columbus Crew. United will join us, San Jose, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Colorado as playoff spectators this time around. My first bit of season review will come in the form of my MLS Best XI. Click to continue reading...

Could the Toronto FC midfielder be headed back 'cross the pond? Maybe.

Courtesy of this article on the CBC's website:

"It was a big decision when I came over here two years ago, and it was the right decision because I have my hunger for the game back.

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Image courtesy of Daylife

Is Robbo staying for 2009? According to this article, he's unsure right now. He wants to do what's best for his family, and if that means returning to Britain, he's willing to do that.

Rohan Ricketts praised John Carver after our 3-2 win on Saturday, crediting him with turning his career around. Click to continue reading...

Those of you who read The Offside Rules daily have already seen this, but The Don, our great commissioner Mr. Don Garber, was recognized by Time Magazine as the 14th-best sporting executive of the last year. Number 1? KU Athletics Director Lew Perkins. Read about them here.

Also, Davy's rocket from last Saturday beat out some pretty good goals from Ronnie O'Brien, Kenny Cooper, Steve Ralston and Carl Robinson to win the Sierra Mist Goal of the Week award. Click to continue reading...

I think many of us get really bored when ESPN feed us a steady Champions League diet of Manchester United & Chelsea every round. But at least this week they are taking on two opponents who are very worth taking a look at. Villarreal (sadly without Jozy Altidore who is not on their group stage roster) and Bordeaux with Loren Blanc at the helm playing really great looking football. Click to continue reading...

Since Toronto FC's Carl Robinson is playing we find this appropriate...We hope to bring most World Cup Qualifiers with MLS players but can not promise that... Sit back and enjoy your futbol.


Futbol! on Justin.tv Click to continue reading...

A full slate of World Cup qualifying games around the world is scheduled today.

Right now, for instance, Carl Robinson of Toronto FC is leading Wales against Russia and the sensation of Euro 2008, Andrei Arshavin, on Fox Soccer Channel.

Televised games later today include the Netherlands against Macedonia at 11:30 a.

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Photo by ISIphotos.com

John Carver is looking for some soccer players, any soccer players.

In a story widely-reported in Canada, Carver's Toronto FC will have to take on Chivas USA on Saturday missing nine players due to international duty.

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I'm trying to crank out my PE column tonight so I don't have to worry about it on Monday morning, which is a good thing since I'm going to be out and about most of the day. I'm writing a column on the horrendous scheduling by Major League Soccer and how they're playing right through World Cup qualifying. Click to continue reading...

John Carver didn't hold back much after Toronto lost to Chivas 2-1 on Saturday.

He said he was "absolutely furious" with his defense and also was disgusted with the league and its scheduling. In fact, he even said Toronto FC asked the league to postpone next Saturday's match against Chivas due to extreme hardship. Click to continue reading...

UPDATE: This list has been updated to include Darren Huckerby's salary, Emilio's big pay raise and Claudio Reyna's retirement.

Also the list of celebrity MLS fans has been updated here.



While MLS is not the English Premier League, that hasn't stopped a few players from making a tidy bit of coin and greenbacks. Click to continue reading...

Wow, a road victory, a honest to goodness road victory. Toronto defeated Colorado 1-0 today. A great goal from Chad Barrett very close the end of the first half and then a rollicking, nail biter in the eventful second half were the key ingredients.
Watching TFC as visitors on television has become a battle between hope and history. Click to continue reading...

FC Dallas 2 - TFC 0



This game could be the turning point in the season. Many of the bad things about TFC were on display today, including frustration and violent temper (which in this case go hand in hand). Don't get me wrong, there was lots of good on display, just that it was overshadowed by what happened in the second half. Click to continue reading...

As the All-Star rosters are now official, its time to put together the group of eleven that didn't make but had a damn good reason for making it. I've stated my opinion on some that got snubbed but figured that it would be best to put out a full starting lineup of guys that didn't [...] Click to continue reading...

Which players have played the most regular season MLS games without playing in the U.S. Open Cup for an MLS team? Here's the answer:

(active players in italics)

1 Pete Marino 100 2 Adrian Paz 80 3 D.J. Countess 54 3 Dave van den Bergh 54 5 Janusz Michallik 53 6 Edwin Gorter 49 7 Walter Zenga 47 8 Bouna Coundoul 45 9 Doctor Khumalo 43 10 Jim Brennan 40 10 Robbie Findley 40 10 Richard Goulooze 40 13 Carl Robinson 39 14 Brad Friedel 38 14 Juan Pablo Garcia 38 14 Dane Richards 38 17 Brian Bates 37 17 Maurice Edu 37 17 Manny Motajo 37 17 Henry Zambrano 37 21 Guillermo Barros Schelotto 36 21 Jeff Zaun 36 23 Lance Key 34 23 Dave Salzwedel 34 25 David Testo 33
Juan Pablo Angel, Stefani Miglioranzi, and Danny Dichio are next in line. Click to continue reading...

It might not seem like it, but the MLS season is barreling toward the midway point, which means it's getting to be that time to vote for the MLS All-Star Game. Fan Balloting has been under way for quite some time but media were only given their ballots this week.

This got me wondering what lineup you, the SBI Mafia, would vote for to play against West Ham United in this summer's All-Star Game.

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It might not seem like it, but the MLS season is barreling toward the midway point, which means it's getting to be that time to vote for the MLS All-Star Game. Fan Balloting has been under way for quite some time but media were only given their ballots this week.

This got me wondering what lineup you, the SBI Mafia, would vote for to play against West Ham United in this summer's All-Star Game.

Click to continue reading...

We have updated the MLS Rich List with salaries of players who came to the league since we last made the list. The only real change is that DC United's Luciano Emilio jumped up the list 10 places from 18 to 8 due to the raise he got making him a Designated Player.
>While MLS is not the English Premier League, that hasn't stopped a few players from making a tidy bit of coin and greenbacks. Click to continue reading...

There is something sweet brewing down by Lake Ontario. That once wonky home team is showing signs of coming together on a fast-track schedule that not even the crazy optimistic few were ever predicting. We fans spent the winter complaining about the lack of ingredients going into the stew-pot, but if this continues who cares about the slow cooking method that got us to this point ? Click to continue reading...

It was pathetic today. I deserve better. Well, I mean all fans deserve better, but I am taking this miserable play personally. Must have been the cold winds off the lake that soured me. TFC needs to find a half dozen players for next season. The goal scoring drought has taken on a life of it's own. Yes. there is an element of rotten luck, but there is also a lot of flaws being exposed. Click to continue reading...