I woke up this morning to Josh Mayers of the Seattle Times reporting that the LA Galaxy had managed to secure Leonardo on a free transfer and they got Juninho back on a free loan.Suffice it to say that my initial response was not fit to print.

The top of the LA Galaxy roster boggles the mind.

Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber officially announced today that the 2012 AT&T MLS All-Star Game will be hosted by Philadelphia at PPL Park.

"That's why Philadelphia is the best sports city in the USA," Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter said, "top notch fans, top notch stadium.

In my debut article I'm taking on the hat trick format to discuss a needed holiday tradition in MLS, a quick look at the revival of Italian soccer, and a couple familiar faces playing with their respective national teams. Does anyone have any fireworks ready?

1. The holidays may have lulled most of the soccer world into a brief slumber, but the English Premiere League is still going full speed ahead with their traditional Boxing Day matches.

SOURCE: REPUBLICA KATHMANDU, July 17: For Nepali national football team coach Graham Roberts, the Martyrs Memorial Red Bull A Division Football League was more exciting than his assumption.
"The league was quite interesting and far better than my earlier expectations," Roberts, who was watching the football match between Bansbari and Saraswoti on Friday at the Dasharath Stadium, told Republica.

Although American soccer is growing in stature and status, many of its top players continue to ply their trade overseas in foreign leagues, most notably in Europe. There are many reasons why this happens, but the two main reasons tend to be money, and quality.

Financially, American professional soccer can not compete with the likes of the English Premiere League, La Liga in Spain, or Italy's Serie A.