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Chicago Fire original CJ Brown played in his last professional soccer game on October 23, 2010.
Both Brown and teammate Brian McBride had announced their retirements days earlier. Chicago was
already eliminated from the playoffs going into the game. Prior to kick-off the players knew it was
going to be only the second time in the club's history that the Fire did not make the playoffs.
Back when I posted about my 2012 Wishes, one of the wishes was wanting to get the 2000 MLS Cup
back. For those that missed it, or don't know, the 2000 MLS Cup is not in Kansas City. The cup that
teams get to keep after winning MLS Cup is in Dallas at the Hunt Sports Group Headquarters in
Dallas.
Since that point, I've not said much about the the trophy or built off of that comment regarding
getting the trophy back.
BY ADAM SERRANO
Friday's scrimmage between the Houston Dynamo and the Los Angeles Galaxy may have been a rematch
of the 2011 MLS Cup, but last November's match was far from the minds of all involved.
The Dynamo defeated the Galaxy 1-0 after Nathan Sturgis scored the lone goal of the match on a
header from a looping cross from Josue Soto in the 68th minute.
Photo by Tony Quinn/ISIphotos.com
By THOMAS FLOYD
WASHINGTON -- This past fall, when D.C. United general manager Dave Kasper contemplated his
goals heading into the offseason, two of the first priorities that came to mind were adding veteran
leadership and strengthening his team's back line.
Hans Backe wants to go for it all. (Getty Images)
File this under "we've heard this before".
New York Red Bulls manager Hans Backe made a sweeping declaration yesterday to reporters while
in Mexico. He plans to go all-in this season.
"I say we should go for it all: the Open Cup, the Shield, the MLS Cup," Backe told reporters in
a conference call on Thursday from Mexico, where the Red Bulls are training.
photo by ISIphotos.com
By FRANCO PANIZO
Real Salt Lake are looking to the future just as much as they are hoping to win an MLS Cup title
in 2012.
Real Salt Lake announced four moves on Thursday, including the re-signings of Fabian Espindola
and Ned Grabavoy.
United States National Team player Chris Wondolowski has signed a new deal with the San Jose
Earthquakes. "I'm grateful to the organization for giving me a new contract for a second straight
year and look forward to helping the Earthquakes get back to the MLS Cup Playoffs," Wondolowski
said. "I think we have a great team heading into this season and I know I'm looking forward to that
home opener on March 10th against New.
Photo by Tony Quinn/ISIphotos.com
The Houston Dynamo are still actively trying to improve their forward options, and they took a
step in that direction by swinging a trade Wednesday night.
The Dynamo traded a conditional 2014 draft pick to the Colorado Rapids for Macoumba Kandji,
adding the athletic, Senegalese striker to a stable that currently has Calen Carr, Will Bruin, Cam
Weaver and rookie Colin Rolfe.
The Dynamo have added another forward/midfielder to the roster, trading a conditional draft pick
to the Colorado Rapids for Macoumba Kandji. Kandji is a tall, atheltic forward with good quickness,
but he's had his injury struggles the last couple seasons.
It's an inexpensive move for Kinnear to make and makes good sense as Kandji has experience in
the league and has shown the ability to score goals and create chances for teammates in the
past.
Earlier today MLSSoccer.com reported that the reason Mac Kandji wasn't in camp right away is that
he was looking for a team in Europe. This afternoon the Rapids announced that Kandji had been
traded to Houston for a conditional 3rd round draft pick in 2014. Probably a fair trade for a guy
who's had 0 goals and 3 assists in 16 games.
Juninho proved to be a handful for most MLS sides in 2011. (Getty Images)
I said a few weeks (or maybe just a couple weeks) back that the biggest thing that the LA Galaxy
needed to replace this winter was Juninho.
Well, what better way to replace him than with him.
The LA Galaxy announced on Tuesday that the club has reached an agreement with Brazilian club
São Paulo FC that will allow midfielder Juninho to return to the Galaxy on loan for the 2012 MLS
season.
The Los Angeles Galaxy's search for Juninho's replacement has ended with Juninho himself.
The Sao Paulo central midfielder is on his way back to Los Angeles for another loan spell with
the Galaxy. Multiple reports out of Brazil say that Sao Paulo manager Emerson Leao had no plans to
use the 23-year-old Juninho, who signed a new three-year deal with Sao Paulo during the MLS
offseason.
Photo by Michael Janosz/ISIPhotos.com
BY ADAM SERRANO
CARSON, Calif. -- Fresh off his year and a half long stint in Germany, Edson Buddle does not
feel like the same player that departed the Los Angeles Galaxy after a stellar 2010 season.
He believes that he's even better.
As the preseason gets into full swing and rosters begin to stabilize, it's time to take a look at
the men who pull the strings and have the greatest impact on the team itself. The modern manager
is part tactician, ...
Visit http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com for the rest of the story.
For a team that has lost (Brian Ching, Danny Cruz, Hunter Freeman, Carlo Costly) more than it
has gained (Nathan Sturgis, draft picks, trialists) over the offseason, the Houston Dynamo might
just find itself in an improved position once the 2012 season begins where the 2011 ended. And that
would be without a single major offseason acquisition.
Photo Credit: Alfonso Jimenez via Wikimedia Commons
Ever since Amado Guevara was shown the door, I've been clamoring for an actual #10 Creative
Midfielder for our team - to absolutely no avail. That genius Bruce Arena (besides destroying our
pretty good backline in 2007) saddled us with the perenially injured Claudio Reyna, who (as a
defensive midfielder) was absolutely not the creative player we needed.
photo by JN Santos/ISIphotos.com
By FRANCO PANIZO
The man responsible for the tumultuous offseason the Colorado Rapids endured is prolonging his
stay with the club.
Technical Director Paul Bravo signed a new three-year deal with the Rapids on Wednesday,
extending a stay that began in 2009.
After spending a year in Germany playing for FC Ingolstadt of the German 2. Bundesliga, United
States striker Edson Buddle is returning to the Galaxy after signing a free transfer.
The Galaxy garnered suspicion early Wednesday when they posted a picture of a blank #14 jersey
on their official Twitter account, asking fans whose name they would like to see on the jersey.
As if the defending MLS Champions needed any more offensive firepower, the LA Galaxy announced
today that Edson Buddle would be rejoining the Galaxy after terminating his contract with FC
Ingolstadt by mutual consent.
Buddle's addition gives LA the league's best forward tandem, as he and Robbie Keane will lead a
line that should feast on the service provided by Landon Donovan and David Beckham.
Edson Buddle's European venture has come to a screeching halt.
Despite Buddle scoring six goals for FC Ingolstadt this season, the club released him from his
contract Tuesday for unspecified reasons. Buddle had been sent away from the team prior to the 2.
Bundesliga's winter break, the first indication that his time in Germany may have been coming to a
premature close.
Yesterday's Fire news was firmly in the "not good" category. In case you haven't heard, Josip
Mikulic is not with the team as he attends to personal issues. He may never return to the club.
Combine this with Yamith Cuesta suddenly being gone (loan ended; Fire opted not to buy) the back
line is suddenly very, very thin.
Forward Calen Carr, who played a key role in the run to the MLS Cup final, has been limited this
week while rehabbing from the left knee surgery he underwent late last month. "I had to get a
little work done on my knee," he said. "It was nothing major. Just cleaned up some things." [...]
Leeds United have signed MLS star Robbie Rogers on an 18-month contract from Columbus Crew.
The 24-year agreed personal terms on January 10 but had to wait for his work permit to be approved
before he could become officially part of the squad at Elland Road.
Rogers was given a taste of football in England in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Newcastle
last week but was unable to feature for the reserves because not all of his paperwork had been
completed.
Former Colorado Rapids coach Gary Smith has a new job. After battling with Rapids management over
decision-making, the club announced that they wouldn't offer Smith a new contract. The 2010 MLS Cup
winner is instead the new manager at Stevenage, currently 6th in England's League One. He is
expected to name his Colorado assistant Steve Guppy as his assistant with Stevenage.
One of the most hotly debated roster topics this off season has been whether the Seattle
Sounders need to upgrade or add tactical depth to the roster at the more attack-oriented central
midfield position. The discussion has often gotten bogged down in traditional soccer semantics.
Many of us have expressed our desire for a more creative player by suggesting that perhaps the team
needs to find a CAM.
Gary Smith is the new Stevenage manager. It doesn't come as any surprise that Smith has been
appointed as he has been the favourite for the position over the last week or so. He was even in
the main stand watching his new side beat play-off rivals MK Dons 4-2 earlier tonight. News of his
appointment broke soon after and the Harlow born coach is set to be the man given the task of
replacing Graham Westley and continuing Boro's promotion push.
It seems like just yesterday the Dynamo played for the MLS Cup in Los Angeles, in fact it was
only 66 days ago, but time waits for no one and the new season must get underway. Yesterday at the
team's training facilities, the Dynamo did just that, kicking off the 2012 season with the opening
of pre-season camp.
Philadelphia Union
Sebastien Le Toux tweeted this morning, "I spent a great week at BWFC. Great club with great
people. Now back in Philly." We are waiting for confirmation on this from the Union on this and if
this means there will be no transfer to Bolton.
Following the successful appeal to secure Tim Ream the UK work permit necessary to complete the
defender's move to the Wanderers, Owen Coyle tells The Bolton News that he plans to "add one or two
more to take us on to the second half of the season" before the close of the transfer window on
January 31.
Follow the yellow brick road, and there might be a powerful wizard at the end able to grant you
whatever your heart desires. Or, as so often we find, after having stumbled through the many
potholes on that road you come to the end of it only to be met by an eccentric myth of a person
capable only of offering up false promises and trinkets.
Why have the Philadelphia Union added a scrimmage against Florida Gulf Coast University, of all
places, to their preseason warm-up tour? With approximately 12,000 students including post-grads
and a "noteable alumni" list that consists of a professional monster trucker and Don Carman
(retired Philadelphia Phillies pitcher from the 80's), what put the FGCU Eagles on the radar?
It wasn't that long ago that Providence product Michael Parkhurst and Attleboro native Geoff
Cameron were just two local talents hoping to play their way from the grassy fields of
southeastern New England onto the big stage.
Cue the big stage.
On Saturday, the defending duo both of whom played club soccer for Rhode Island-based Bayside FC
found themselves paired together in the center of the United States defense for the first time
during the squad's 1-0 shutout of Venezuela.
First the good.
In acquiring Danny Cruz, United looks to have settled the flank depth question, initially addressed
by the drafting of Nick DeLeon as Pontius' backup. A regular starter for the MLS Cup finalists from
Houston, Cruz provides excellent cover for Najar, who will likely be away for Olympic and possibly
World Cup duty with Honduras and may even attract interest from abroad this summer.
Portland's pre-season foes were added too. The Timbers will play Montreal, Houston, LA and
Chicago during there 12 day stay in LA.
Here is information from the Portland Timbers:
The Portland Timbers today announced match details for the club's preseason camp in Carson,
Calif.
The Dynamo announced today that midfielder/winger Danny Cruz has been traded to DC United for
allocation money. The trade was announced around 2:45pm CT.
Cruz graduated from Generation adidias in the off-season and the Dynamo declined his contract
option. The team had made attempts to re-sign Cruz but apparently a deal could not be reached.
David Beckham has joined LA Galaxy owner Tim Leiweke in hoping that the invaluable Chelsea
midfielder Frank Lampard considers signing for LA Galaxy in the future.
Lampard, 33, has been linked to the MLS Cup winners in recent weeks but having rubbished all
reports of an exit from Stamford Bridge, the midfielder looks set to continue his impressive form
for the West Londoners.
Geoff Cameron has been a standout for the Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer, and has not only
lead the Dynamo into the MLS Cup this past season, but also received a recent call-up to the US
National team.
His play is worthy of national team consideration, but it's his presence and positive attitude that
have been key components in his success.
David Beckham will finish his playing career in America after signing a new two-year deal with LA
Galaxy.
The soccer betting in the US had linked the former Manchester United, Real Madrid and AC Milan star
with a move to Paris St Germain after his Galaxy contract expired at the end of December.
Chalk up another win for the Los Angeles Galaxy
Only this one wasn't just for them, it perhaps was an important win for MLS as well. Despite
massive offers from numerous European clubs, David Beckham officially chose to remain in the United
States, agreeing to new multi-year contract with the Galaxy that keeps the famed midfielder in Los
Angeles through the 2013 MLS season.
Photo by David Bernal/ISIPhotos.com
BY ADAM SERRANO
LOS ANGELES --It is official, David Beckham will be returning to MLS and it appears that he may
be staying for quite some time.
The Los Angeles Galaxy presented Beckham before a group of reporters on Thursday to announce his
new two-year-deal with the club.
At the end of the 2011 MLS season, one of Major League Soccer's veterans retired. After 14 years in
the league, Andy Williams chose to hang up his boots and pick up a clipboard as he joined the
RealSaltLake technical staff. After winning an MLS Cup, representing his national team and building
a life in Utah, the Jamaican is able to look back on his career with pride.