Former D.C. United striker Blake Brettschneider is the latest free agent hoping to earn a spot on the New England Revolution for the 2012 season. Brettschneider is set to join the team on trial next week the Revs confirmed to New England Soccer Today on Thursday afternoon.

Brettschneider, a 22-year-old who can also play in midfield, played in 15 league games, including nine starts, for D.

The Portland Timbers four supplemental draft picks all came from west coast schools as Gavin Wilkinson and company went with players they had the opportunity to observe this college season.

Ryan Kowaluk - D - University of Portland

A member of the 2010 and 2011 Portland Timbers U-23 sides, Kowaluk was a two time All-PDL selection alongside his teammate Brett Richards.

By FRANCO PANIZO

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The 2012 MLS Combine has come to a close, but not before several players used the event to help their stock while others did not.

In a class dominated by attacking talent, several forwards and creative midfielders enjoyed strong combines, showcasing their goal-scoring and playmaking abilities.

By FRANCO PANIZO

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Most of the positive talk during the 2012 MLS Combine has surrounded the forwards and attacking midfielders, but one player who has performed well and does not play either of those positions is Chris Blais.

The 6-foot-4, 195-pound goalkeeper was one of the more consistent performers through the event, showing good command of his area and making a handful of fine saves in the process in all three of his team's games.

The final match day of the 2012 MLS Combine has kicked off as MLS coaches and scouts make their final observations and preparations ahead of Thursday's MLS Combine.

The day's first match features the Blue and Green teams, and while there are some interesting prospects in this game, the main event features the talent-laden and undefeated red team against the equally impressive white team.

By FRANCO PANIZO

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The second day of the MLS Combine was the first day for Ethan Finlay, who had arrived to the Sunshine State on Saturday. He had missed the first day of the event on Friday to attend the Hermann Trophy Award ceremony in St.

The forward class in the 2012 MLS Combine is an intriguing one, as teams try to figure out who the top strikers will be on the board once Akron star Darren Mattocks is taken, as expected, with the first or second pick in the draft.

Three of the most likely candidates to go early from the forward pool are UCLA product Chandler Hoffman (pictured), Maryland standout Casey Townsend and South Florida star Dom Dwyer.

The MLS Combine resumes action today as MLS Draft prospects look to give scouts and coaches more to think about as we draw closer to the MLS Draft on Thursday.

Day One saw several players boost their stock, while some others struggled to make an impact. UCSB playmaker Luis Silva, UCLA striker Chandler Hoffman, Marquette midfielder Calum Mallace, Louisville's Austin Berry and Indiana's Tommy Meyer were just some of the players who enjoyed strong first days.

Before we get to the news I thought I'd take a second to introduce myself. I'm Timm and I'm sure you've seen me around the in the comments - and I now have the privilege to be one of the contributors to Sounder At Heart. I'm a ECS member and a supporter that is behind enemy lines. Yes, I live in Oregon though I'm about 45 minutes to the south of said city.

By FRANCO PANIZO

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- That a Dartmouth player is at the MLS Combine is an accomplishment in itself. That a Dartmouth player shone on the first day of the event, which is notorious for being rough for most participants, is even more impressive.

The 2012 MLS Combine is set to kick off this afternoon in Fort Lauderdale, and SBI will be providing coverage throughout the next five days, as players look to improve their stock ahead of the MLS Draft.

The Combine will be live-streamed on MLSSoccer.com, while Fox Soccer and SBI will feature extensive coverage, including game recaps, player rankings, video interviews and breakdowns of all the action.

Photo by Tony Quinn/ISIphotos.com

The MLS Combine gets underway in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., later this afternoon, and MLS has released the rosters for the four teams that will compete in front of coaches and scouts for the next four days.

Seven foreign players were invited to participate in the combine, which is otherwise comprised of NCAA seniors and Generation adidas signings.

The MLS Combine starts this afternoon and the four teams have been released. Below is where everyone will be playing with this weekend.

adiZero

Coach: Barlow

Last First Pos. School/Note Meara Ryan GK Fordham Singh Shawn LB UCLA Rodriguez Charles CB Charlotte Bates Mykell RB Santa Calra Maund Aaron CB ND Walker Kenney DM Louisville Ubierna Benjamin DMF Youth International Creavalle Warren CM UCF Ibarra Miguel CM UC Irvine Martinez Enzo CM GA / UNC Cascio Tony FWD UCONN James Evan Mid/Fwd Charlotte Rolfe Colin FWD Louisville Ownby Brian FWD UVA Frimpong Evans FWD Delaware Bonfigli Emiliano MF Youth International Dwyer Dom FWD GA/USF adiPower

Coach: Cirovski

Last First Pos.

We have a little over a week until the MLS SuperDraft takes place. In this short span, MLS will conduct it's "Scouting Combine" over the next few days. The good news is that a high-speed internet connection will get you ...
Visit http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com for the rest of the story.

Columbus Crew technical director Brian Bliss can add U.S. Under-20 national team assistant coach to his resume after becoming the first assistant appointed to Tab Ramos' staff on Wednesday.

Bliss will maintain his duties with the Crew while assuming the added international responsibilities.

It is the week of the MLS Combine, which means it is time for one final mock draft before things get real interesting here.

I debated long and hard over the New Year weekend on whether or not to post this before the Combine or wait for the Combine to take place. What I decided to do was just to post this now and then have one final mock draft after the Combine.

The MLS Draft is less than two weeks away, and the MLS Combine is now less than a week away, meaning it's getting close to time for clubs to start figuring out what needs they want to address and which players they plan to target when the draft kicks off in Kansas City.

There is still plenty we don't know about how the draft will shape up.

Photo by Michael Janosz/ISIphotos.com

For a team coming off of a championship run, the Los Angeles Galaxy have had plenty of major moving parts over recent weeks.

Between Landon Donovan going back to Everton on a short-term loan, Juninho returning to Sao Paulo, Donovan Ricketts being dealt to the Montreal Impact, Sean Franklin re-signing and David Beckham, well, still making a decision, the Galaxy remain the talk of MLS deep into the offseason.

One of the big weekend stories involves America's most well known soccer player, Landon Donovan, and his decision to accept a short term loan deal to English side Everton. Though not a business story in the traditional sense, Donovan's temporary move has the added benefit of shining a global light upon Major League Soccer and bringing attention to the league.

We know that your life is busy.

So, we at New England Soccer Today decided to make your life simpler by creating a one-stop, no-frills forum highlighting what went down in New England soccer during the past week and allow you to catch up on anything you may have missed.

Without further ado, here's a snapshot of what happened during the past week:

Sunday, Dec.

Photo courtesy of Duke athletics

The quest for college soccer's top individual award has been narrowed to three competitors.

Duke's Andrew Wenger, North Carolina's Billy Schuler and Creighton's Ethan Finlay were named finalists for the Hermann Trophy, emerging from a list of 15 semifinalists that was released earlier in the week.

Photo courtesy of UNC athletics

The MLS Combine is about a month away, but we already have a good idea of who will be trying to wow scouts ahead of the MLS SuperDraft after MLS released a list of 52 players who will compete in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Among those included on the initial list are highly rated players such as South Florida standout goalkeeper Chris Blais, North Carolina centerback Matt Hedges, Louisville attackers Nick DeLeon and Colin Rolfe, Maryland forward Casey Townsend and Creighton striker Ethan Finlay.

As the Philadelphia Union approach their home opener against the expansion Vancouver Whitecaps, the team is faced with a tough decision: who will, potentially, replace left midfielder Justin Mapp?

Mapp is the only Union player that remains on the injury list for the team heading into Saturday's game.

Teal Bunbury

Teal Bunbury was having a terrific off-season. After his first year with Sporting KC where he scored 7-goals for his club, he was called up to the U.S. Men's National Team. He flew to South Africa where he received playing time in the second half of a game in the Nelson Mandela Cup.

Mann Lagos

Today's guest is Manny Lagos. It's been a busy January for the former MLS and US National team player who has now turned his attention to coaching. Lagos was first in Fort Lauderdale, FL. in early January for the MLS Combine and while there was able to observe the US U-20 Men's National team team train.

Photo by ISIPhotos.com

BY ADAM SERRANO

Sean Johnson is making a habit of using the Home Depot Center as a launching pad to his success.

When the Chicago Fire entered the 2011 MLS Draft, the hope was that the rebuilding club would be able to find defensive help to make up for the losses of Wilman Conde and C.J. Brown.

The club's wishes were answered when North Carolina central defender Jalil Anibaba fell to the Fire at the No.

Robin Fraser knows a thing or two about being a part of and overseeing a strong defense, and he used that knowledge when making Chivas USA's first pick in the draft by picking up Akron's Zarek Valentin.

After picking at No. 4, Chivas traded back into the first round, acquiring Real Salt Lake's first-round pick (No.

Major League Soccer held their 2011 SuperDraft today at the NSCAA Convention in Baltimore, Maryland.

The expansion team Vancouver Whitecaps had the first choice overall and took 17-year-old forward Omar Salgado which seemed to surprise everyone but the Whitecaps.

The Fire landed University of North Carolina defender Jalil Anibaba with the ninth pick in today's MLS SuperDraft. Anibaba, the MVP of the MLS Combine, was ranked by many as a top five pick and the Fire were understandably surprised to find him available at number nine. According to Technical Director Frank Klopas, Anibaba can play both central defense and right back equally well.

The conventional wisdom about the Red Bulls coming into this year's MLS Superdraft in Baltimore was that they would seek out help in defense, focusing on the center back and fullback positions. On the other hand, Erik Solér made it clear in interviews yesterday that if their favored targets at those positions were not available, they would select the best player available.

Photo Courtesy of MLSSoccer.com

The 2011 MLS Draft is set to begin Thursday at Noon and while we have a good idea who the first two players picked will be, it isn't a stretch to call this year's draft one of the toughest to predict in recent memory.

I will be posting a Final 50-player MLS Draft Big Board, as well as a full three-round MLS Mock Draft later on tonight (They would have been sooner if I hadn't fallen ill on Tuesday).

It's been a bit quiet lately on the TFC newsfront. The MLS Combine began on Saturday, so most of the staff is down in Florida checking out the young players on display. Tomorrow is the big MLS SuperDraft. It starts at Noon ET and will be on GolTV if you want to watch. I will be covering it live on twitter, so you can follow me there for up to date news.

By FRANCO PANIZO

The 2011 MLS Combine is in the books, but before all of the focus turns towards where these guys will be playing this season, we're looking back at the event's top performers.

Several of the top prospects did not participate in the Combine, but there were still many players who showed considerably well over the three days worth of matches in sunny Ft.

After strengthening their defense with additions of Ryan Cochrane and Didier Domi so far this off-season, the Revolution will likely turn to Thursday's SuperDraft to bolster its offense. Holding the sixth overall the 2011 MLS Superdraft, the Revolution may need to look no further than University of Maryland forward Jason Herrick.

Will Perry Kitchen go to Vancouver or to Portland. Both could use his services come Thursday. (Akron)

Its hard to believe the SuperDraft is nearly here. The MLS Combine wraps up later today and folks in Florida will be rushing (if they haven't already left) to get to Baltimore for the draft.

The LA Galaxy's hopes of retaining the Supporters' Shield have taken a big hit as Edson Buddle has signed for Bundesliga second division team Ingolstadt.

Buddle scored a career-high 17 goals last season, but with signing of former New York Red Bulls Designated Player Juan Pablo Angel over the winter, the writing was on the wall that Buddle, a free-agent would be playing somewhere else in 2011.

The 2011 MLS Combine wraps up today with the final day of action as players have their final chance to impress MLS coaches today.

We will be providing commentary throughout the morning's matches so please feel free to follow along here. As always, you are welcome to share your own thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.

*Word of Edson Buddle's signing with German Budesliga 2 club FC Ingolstadt came down today as I was standing on a Home Depot Center practice field watching a U.S. Men's National Team practice.

I'll have thoughts on the move from the likes of Coach Bob Bradley, Buddle's (now former) Galaxy teammate A.

Day Two of the 2011 MLS Combine is set to kick off and most Combine observers are expecting today's action to really tell a more clear story about where many of these players will wind up being taken on Thursday at the MLS Draft.

I will be providing commentary along with the rest of the SBI team today from here in Fort Lauderdale, so please feel free to follow along here.