Nick DeLeon, courtesy dcunited.com

Hey, look, finally an addition to the roster! United picked up versatile attacker (is he a winger, a forward, an attacking midfielder?...Hmm, I'm sensing a pattern here) Nick DeLeon1 in the SuperDraft. I don't watch much collegiate ball, so I'm not going to pass any judgement on the pick.

Extra Ref Training -- Is the USSF Actually Listening?

Steve Goff of the Washington Post has obtained the proposed budget for the 2012 fiscal year for the USSF. Most surprising, and of most relevance, is the $1.1 million increase for Referee Training. This might be just what the doctor ordered...

Steve Goff of the Washington Post reports that Juergen Klinsmann will earn $2.5 million in base salary to coach the U.S. men's national soccer team — more than four times higher than his predecessor, Bob Bradley, and 13 times larger than women's coach Pia Sundhage.
No other details about Klinsmann's contract, including incentives and other payments, appeared in the U.

Jozy Altidore scored his fifth goal of the season for AZ Alkmaar, but lost 5-1, snapping an 11-game unbeaten streak.
How the rest of our Americans did check out Steve Goff's Washington Post blog.
Video of Jozy's goal.
Video from 723 Football Media


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STARTERS
The Mexican Semifinals start tonight.
DU NORD AT THE CONTROLS
du Nord at the Controls - Tue Nov 29, 2011 - new music mix at Spotify.
STORY OF THE DAY
High quality MLS branded Foosball table!
TEAM USA - EL EQUIPO DE TODOS
Brian Sciaretta of Yanks Abroad talks to Fabian Johnson about playing for his new international team.

Zac MacMath, Jack McInerney, Danny Mwanga, Amobi Okugo and Zach Pfeffer* are all set to be a part of the Generation Adidas team tour of the Netherlands next month, according to a report by Soccer Insider of the Washington Post.

Steve Goff, who authors the Soccer Insider blog, "acquired" 18 names that have been chosen to represent MLS during a tour of some of the league's brightest young stars.

Goff's version of the protected list is out, so I thought I'd stir from my hibernation1 to do some comparisons. (Revisit my list in four parts by hitting the links highlighted in the sidebar.)

• On both lists: Willis, Jakovic, De Rosario, Kitchen, McDonald, Pontius, Quaranta, Wolff
• Goff also protects: Korb, Woolard, King
• I also protect: Boskovic, Brettschneider, da Luz

We're in alignment on a number of points beyond the obvious (De Rosario, Kitchen, Pontius).

File this under "This can't be good" for D.C. United fans: MLS has survey to gauge interest in Baltimore Craig Stouffer Cheers & Jeers Washington Examiner
I would guess the only thing worse than losing the most championed team in MLS history would be to have them move about an hour away to a rival sports city.

STORY OF THE DAY
Steven Goff of the Washington Post reports that Charlie Davis of DC United has filed a $20 Million lawsuit against the night club and event sponsor who served alcohol to the driver of the car he was a passenger in 2 years ago that resulted in a horrific car accident that killed one passenger and severely injured Davies.

View This Poll

Over the years we have learned that are readers are savvy consumers of soccer media who use multiple sources to check soccer news, keep in touch with other fans and follow trends in the beautiful game. Because a large part of what we cover is the soccer media, we thought it was time for the first Footiebusiness poll since 2009.

Many times on this site, I've bemoaned that fact that American internationals face hurdles to return to MLS when their career in Europe has either stagnated or are failing to provide them with growth opportunities. This year there has been a change for the better with players like Charlie Davies, Benny Feilhaber, and Freddy Adu (!

Eddie Johnson is ducking his way out of his MLS deal. (Getty Image)

Just as quickly as Major League Soccer announced that they had signed striker Eddie Johnson, the deal looks to be in jeopardy. If you look at the league's website the article announcing the deal is also gone. Here's why:

Steve Goff is reporting this morning that Johnson is having second thoughts about signing with the league and is asking for more money.

Some quick Tuesday bullets:

• First, a training video from US Soccer:

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» Why do I have this sneaking suspicion that Brek Shea might get a look at leftback?

» Clarence Goodson rules out for Wednesday with a hammy strain. Could Michael Orozco make the start or will it be Bocanegra and Tim Ream?

Yes, of course, we all wish Jorge Perlaza yet another Colombian doing work in MLS could get a call-in.

Thanks for joining us this time...

Alas, many fans will have to fawn from afar.

Here's the murmurings on some US roster news.

• Bill Hamid with a cryptic tweet that Washington Post's Steve Goff thought might be a call-in.

Here's an update on the 2013 recruiting classes for the state's four Division I women's soccer programs, and other state players who have made non-binding verbal commitments to colleges.

Recruit information was gathered from a number of media and team sources, including Brian Goff's Women's Soccer Recruiting Site.

Najar wears No. 14 for United. McDonald inherits No. 2. (via Goff)

Oh no! Didn't poor Brandon McDonald get the memo about the curse?

I've eschewed writing this post for some time mostly because it it could come across in a misrepresented way but with the absolutely terrific Steve Zakuani tribute on Saturday and positing the question to the audience, well, I'd say it's about time.

And let me comment, that I hope "on-the-minute" soccer tributes live-on, regardless of nation or team or any qualifier.

The University of Wisconsin women's soccer program continues to land top-level recruits from north of the border.

Defender Diamond Simpson of Mississauga, Ontario, is the latest Canadian standout to commit to the Badgers, according to Brian Goff's Women's Soccer Recruiting Page.

For a while now a lot of people have been asking what is going on with the Cody Arnoux situation. Like I mentioned before the SuperDraft I figured he would be placed in a weighted lottery similar to what happened to David Bingham recently.

Turns out that is looking like it will be the case.

On Monday MLS teased a "major soccer announcement" to fans and media and scheduled the event for 10:00 a.m. The description of a major event had soccer fans and journalists buzzing. Ultimately the big news was that Red Bull Arena would be the host venue for the 2011 AT&T MLS All Star Game. After the extravangaza last year against Manchester United in front of more than 70k.

I won't even go into the "Major" announcement that is the 2011 All-Star Game at Red Bull Arena. Not even worth going into detail over. Instead I feel this is more of a major news break for MLS and even for D.C. United.

Steve Goff is reporting that the club has been in serious discussions with French side Sochaux about the Washington-based club acquiring the US National team striker Charlie Davies.

Steve Goff at the Washington Post is reporting that US midfielder Freddy Adu will go on loan from Benfica to Turkish second-division side Rizespor. (Actually, Adu's agent is reporting the news, and Rizespor and Benfica have not yet confirmed it at the time of this writing.) If the news is true, then Adu will transfer to his fourth club since his move to Benfica in 2007.

Some business thoughts from the weekend that was. MLSSoccer.com completed a great interview with Sporting KC's President Robb Heineman about some business issues involving the team and the opening of the new stadium The entire interview is worth a read, but here are some noteworthy highlights.

The Seattle Sounders are likely to host a three-day, round-robin preseason tournament at Starfire Sports Complex that will also feature the Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps. (via upload.

It's Akron Coach Caleb Porter's world, we just live in it: Five of the first eight selections were from the NCAA champion Zips, and two more went in the second round. (Goff)

So was the FO's failure to land him last year due more to something they did (or didn't do) or to his desire to stick with his program (or the college ranks in general)?

It's been a long time since Red Bulls fans have experienced such a quiet offseason. While other MLS teams have been announcing roster moves and unveiling coaching changes (and while the David Beckham to Tottenham Hotspur loan saga has been playing out in L.A.), RBNY fans have had to be content with the merest crumbs of information.

For the last couple weeks there had been a thought that Maryland midfielder Matt Kassel would just stick it out and return to school for his senior season instead of going pro. The club who held his rights, New York didn't seem to be all that eager in making him a Home Grown player on their roster.

I think by now (if you are in fact still reading, which if you are at this point it could count as charity work—Ontario high school students in need of community service hours, take note) you are probably aware of several stultifying patterns in the way North American newspapers present their online soccer coverage.