If you were to take a poll asking people who the best defenders in MLS are, the list would include each of the following names:

• Chad Marshall

• Michael Parkhurst

• Bakary Soumare

• Bobby Boswell

At least three of those names enjoyed career-type seasons while the fourth, Parkhurst, still played at a very high level.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

The U.S. men's national team's next World Cup qualifier isn't for another three weeks but all U.S. fans want to talk about is which new players Bob Bradley will bring into the World Cup qualifying mix.

The Columbus Crew had to overcome a 1-0 halftime defecit to beat the Chicago Fire 2-1 in the Eastern Conference final.  The Fire looked pretty good throughout most of the first half.  At halftime Alexi Lalas didn't understand what was going on with the Crew.  He had predicted them to win the game.

With the big 8-0 lead leaving no doubt about the return leg to Barbados, a number of players have been excused by Bob Bradley for a break or to return to their MLS clubs.
10 new spots open up on the roster.
Brian Ching, Clint Dempsey, Steve Cherundolo, Landon Donovan, Brad Guzan, Frankie Hejduk, Maurice Edu, Sacha Kljestan, Pablo Mastroeni, and Matt Reis have been released.

You have to give it to a most excellent blog and a friend of MLSR, The Fighting Talker for scooping the entire MLS blogosphere on this one.
Columbus has one less worry. Defender Chad Marshall, long thought to be headed to Europe is re-signing with the Crew.
Here is an excerpt:
It's very, very rare when Fighting Talker can actually break news, especially news that Steve (Goff) apparently doesn't know yet, but my sources close to the situation in Columbus are telling me that Chad Marshall is about to decline that offer from Mainz and accept an extension from the Crew.

For all the frustrations of the past season - missing the playoffs again, struggling offensively at the wrong time, etc. - I thought the Columbus Crew fielded a pretty solid defense in 2007. It turns out, however, the 44 goals they surrendered tied them for sixth in goals-against; middle of the pack sounds all right, [.

1. New England (8-3-2). A healthy Taylor Twellman would make this team downright scary.
2. LA Galaxy (6-4-2). Six goals without Landon Donovan.
3. Toronto (6-4-2). An impressive 17 points at BMO Field.
4. Chicago (6-4-1). Suddenly offense is sputtering. Can McBride save the day?
5.

So we hear that Guillermo Barros Schelotto got the official Award for game MVP. Yawn. Our awards are better. The "We Hear that Traveling Home by Pumpkin Is Really Fun" Award to: The NEW YORK RED BULLS. Sorry, guys. You had a great playoff run, put up a good fight, and made [...]

In his return to the lineup for Kansas City, Josh Wolff salvaged a point for the Wizards in Columbus tonight. Kansas City came out strong, pressuring Columbus high and not giving them a lot of space. The Wizards capitalized on that pressure in the 22nd minute, when a Claudio Lopez free kick was not fully cleared.

I read Shaka Hislop's article on the emerging club vs country debate that the US faces. At this point the US is cruising to World Cup qualification. They have had some less than flattering performance but lets face it, other than a total meltdown, the US should guarantee themselves a spot.

New England Revolution defender and former Rookie of the Year Michael Parkhurst is leaving Major League Soccer after 4 seasons.  Parkhurst is finishing up contract negotiations with FC Nordsjaelland, a team from Denmark's Superligaen.

Parkhurst's contract was up at the end of this past season so his move is free for FC Nordsjaelland.

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.

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.

Final call for ballot help. I've got to turn my ballot in this week. The tally as it stands.
GK
Matt Reis 9, Jon Busch 8, Kevin Hartman 1
D
Bakary Soumare 11, Frankie Hejduk 9,Chad Marshall 8, Michael Parkhurst 8, Gonzalo Segares 8, Sean Franklin 5, Jimmy Conrad 3, Facundo Erpen 1, Marco Velez 1, Marvell Wynne 1, Abel Xavier 1.

The Crew are still near the top of their conference, while the Wizards are at the other end. Nothing is promised in MLS, though, so lets follow the bouncing ball.
Kickoff!
Wizards
* 1 - Kevin Hartman (GK)
* 2 - Michael Harrington
* 6 - Lance Watson
* 7 - Claudio Lopez
* 9 - Sasha Victorine
* 11 - Kurt Morsink
* 12 - Jimmy Conrad
* 14 - Jack Jewsbury
* 15 - Aaron Hohlbein
* 17 - Roger Espinoza
* 22 - Davy Arnaud
Crew
* 1 - William Hesmer (GK)
* 2 - Frankie Hejduk
* 5 - Danny O'Rourke
* 6 - Andy Iro
* 7 - Guillermo Barros Schelotto
* 10 - Alejandro Moreno
* 14 - Chad Marshall
* 15 - Stefani Miglioranzi
* 16 - Brian Carroll
* 17 - Emmanuel Ekpo
* 19 - Robbie Rogers
1 - Moreno offside almost immediately.

When Kansas City rolled into Columbus last night, they were expecting to continue their hot streak, but they met a very skilled and dangerous Columbus.  I'll get right to the video though, keep a lookout for Chad Marshall's screaming header to the top corner.

What was up last night during the Columbus v Kansas City game with announcer John Harkes calling Guillermo Barros Schelotto, "guh-LAIR-moe", the whole game. Was he kidding? Was it an inside joke? Did no one on the production staff tell this guy how to pronounce a name? His TV partner JP Dellacamera got it right.

The first-place Columbus Crew. Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? Sure, it only lasted until Wednesday, when New England beat D.C. to move back on top of the East, but for four days the Crew enjoyed the rarified air of first place in the brutal Eastern Conference.

The fact that Columbus beat red-hot FC Dallas to move into first made the accomplishment even more impressive.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

If you are a fantasy sports junkie, this might be a tough time a year for you. With fantasy (American) football and fantasy EPL joining the mix, it could be easy for you slack on your fantasy MLS team.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

With the MLS schedule for September now over, it is time for members of the media to submit their votes for MLS player of the month.

The only problem is that this month, perhaps more than any other month this season, picking the best player for the month is very difficult because there isn't an obvious choice.

It's been a slow holiday week, but in the spirit of posting SOMETHING, this is what's rumbling: Kenny Cooper: Increasing rumors about a connection with Eintracht Frankfurt have heated up the transfer talk for this FC Dallas striker.  Pair that with the fact that Dallas doesn't seem to be willing to pay DP money for KCoop [.

According to the German club's website the Columbus Crew's Chad Marshall is currently on trial with the club. Here is a Google Translated excerpt:

When a test match against Darmstadt 98 is played at 6pm on Monday, 8 December in Bruchweg stadium there will be a guest player from the United States for the use of 05.

The California heat wave welcomes MLS soccer this evening.
Crew: William Hesmer, Frankie Hejduk, Chad Marshall, Danny O'Rourke, Ryan Junge, Brad Evans, Guillermo Barros Schellotto, Brian Carroll, Nocolas Hernandez, Robbie Rogers, Alejandro Moreno
Galaxy: Steve Cronin, Chris Klein, Sean Franklin, Abel Xavier, Mike Randolph, David Beckham, Ely Allen, Alvaro Pires, Ante Jazic, Edson Buddle, Landon Donovan
Actually, the sun has dropped enough that none of the seats get hit directly, and there's a cooling breeze - perhaps from the ocean.

Alright, here's the updated voting as it stands. I want our readers to fill out my All-Star ballot. We got eight responses last week and thus far have enough for a team. However, with the deadline a week or so away there is still time to get in more ballots.
As venerable readers Ed The Red pointed out, it may have been best to hold out.

Columbus Crew 3 Kansas City Wizards 3: Both back lines will be doing some extra work this week that's for sure. After Kansas City with two goals up with two goals in two minutes, Columbus put three in within twelve. It took the re debut of Josh Wolff to deny Columbus all three points as Wolff's 75th minute equalizer gave KC a share of the spoils.