Dominic Kinnear was predicitably asked after the match about former Dynamo capatain Brian Ching and he made a slightly surprising comment:

"I think in the beginning, we were a little bit liberal with what we were saying," Kinnear said. "I think it was a little bit rude, and I apologize for that, back when Brian first got selected by Montreal in the Expansion Draft.

Not going to waste too much time on expository dialogue when we can hop right into this one with guns blazing.One note. I like Montreal's offseason. A lot. But I'm excluding them from this discussion because our frame of reference is skewed without the perspective of an actual season played together.

Today, Sporting KC released information regarding the sell of single-game tickets. Starting next week, the team will start selling single game tickets to the team's first 8 home games. Games against New England, Dallas, LA, Real Salt Lake, Montreal, San Jose, Toronto and Chicago. Tickets will begin to go on sale starting February 13th for season ticket holders.

The beginning of the 2012 Major League Soccer season is right around the corner and the folks over at MLS Soccer have released their first preseason power rankings. As expected the LA Galaxy are on top, while the New England Revolution get no love, as MLS Soccer ranks them below the expansion side Montreal Impact.

Their Words "They're getting the music. They understand that the pace internationally is much faster. The demand is much faster in terms of the concentration, speed of play, speed of thought, speed of implementing certain things." US National Team coach Jurgen Klinsmann. Other Sources Montreal's first choice in MLS draft is versatile - from The Kansas City Star's Randy Covitz: Where to play him?

11:23am: Now is the time to float any and all wacky trade rumors. It's almost expected that at least one MLS veteran will move clubs out of nowhere. 11:20am: How likely is it that Toronto remains the only team with two first round picks? Highly unlikely. 11:06am: Rumors abound that Montreal is trying to entice Houston to part with Andre Hainault in exchange for the quick return of Brian Ching and Montreal's #1 pick.

Somehow, it works out so I am off during the MLS SuperDraft 2012, and thus I've taken on the responsibility of live-blogging the first (and maybe) second round. It's being aired on ESPN2, TSN2 and RDS2 at 11AM CST. That means there are about 3 hours remaining until the Montreal L'Impact -- barring any trades or moves, are on the clock for the 1st overall selection in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft.

As we do every so often, we thought we would take a look around the web to see how mainstream websites and publications are covering the annual SuperDraft. We'll start across in the pond in England, where the Guardian continues its regular (and impressive) MLS coverage with a team-by-team look at the upcoming draft through the eyes of various team supporters.

Photo courtesy of Jarred Donalson
Reports out of Philadelphia today are that the bidding to host the 2012 all star game is down to the final two. Union blog, The Brotherly Game is reporting that PPL Park and LIVESTRONG Sporting Park are the two finalists, beating out BC Place of Vancouver and Saputo Stadium in Montreal.

We aren't even done with the SuperDraft this week and already some rumors are flying around about this year's MLS All-Star game. No word yet on who the club MLS will be playing, but one has to figure it won't be a three-peat of Manchester United.

No, the talk today is all about the location of the game.

By J Hutcherson - WASHINGTON, DC (Jan 10, 2012) US Soccer Players -- Whatever happens on Thursday at Major League Soccer's SuperDraft (12pm ET - ESPN2), Montreal has already made the biggest player move. That happened in the expansion draft, when they opted against taking a player's wishes into account and used a pick on then-Houston forward Brian Ching.

A few weeks ago, comments were made publicly about Michael Thomas coming to Kansas City. As mentioned previously, the Notre Dame grad has played with multiple members of Sporting KC, including Matt Besler and Seth Sinovic. Word out of Sweden is that Thomas will definitely not be returning to club, Ljungskile SK.

Their Words "The important thing is that Omar is healthy and fit again. We wish him well." Nurnberg chairman Martin Bader. Other Sources MLS shifting resources away from Generation adidas - from FoxSoccer.com's Ives Galarcep: There was nothing subtle about this shift in policy. Ching will not retire, will report to Montreal team - from The Houston Chronicle's Jesus Ortiz: "I've decided I'm not going to retire," Ching said.

Major props to MLS for getting the schedule out earlier than ever in recent memory. Supporters Groups can now plan trips to even the early games. I know one the questions at the fore for all of the Timbers Army is if the unbalanced schedule going to help or hurt the Timbers. The answer to that question depends on if Portland's follows the Trailblazers' unofficial philosophy, namely "get energy from the fans at home and win (mostly) but go out on the road and get pushed around.

Twice to Montreal? That's handy.
Taking time from their busy schedule of designing dodgy new kits with blasphemous monochromatic badges, only being rumoured to actually sign players and wetting themselves over the possibility of David Beckham's extended stay with LA Galaxy, TFC today released the official 2012 schedule via Major League Soccer.

You can never find FC Dallas on these damn Mayan calendars!Considering it's apparently our last year on the planet, people are surprisingly making plans for the next few months. According to the good and diligent folks over at the great Canadian Soccer News - this includes Toronto FC. With Major League Soccer preparing to officially release the schedules soon, a leaked version of SIXual Healing has found it's way online.

Couple of pieces I found on the web.

First, our friends at New England Soccer Today reports that Milton Caraglio has signed with a Chilean club, C. S. D. Rangers. Here is the link: http://nesoccertoday.com/?p=8201

This is a definite weakening of an area which was not a strong point last year.

While the transfer window in Europe opens up in less than 48 hours, Major League Soccer teams have been busy since the season ended, rebuilding and retooling for next season. Here is a team-by-team look at what each side has done so far this offseason. Who has had the best offseason?

Chicago Fire

IN: G Jay Nolly (12/5: trade from Vancouver); F Kheli Dube (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/New England)

OUT: F Christian Nazarit (12/7: option declined); F Gabriel Ferrari (12/7: option declined); G Alec Dufty (12/12: option declined); M Baggio Husidic(12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/Colorado); G Jon Conway (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/LA Galaxy)

Chivas USA

IN: M Ryan Smith (11/21: trade from Sporting KC); D James Riley (11/23: from Seattle, via trade from Montreal); M Arturo Alvarez (12/5: Re-Entry Stage 1/RSL); M Oswaldo Minda(12/21: SD Quito)

OUT: F Justin Braun (11/23: trade to Montreal); M Gerson Mayen (11/23: trade to Montreal); D Zarek Valentin (11/23: expansion draft); MPaulo Nagamura (11/29: trade to Sporting KC); D Andrew Boyens (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/LA Galaxy); F Chukwudi Chujindu (12/12: option declined); M Simon Elliott (12/12: out of contract); G Zach Thornton (12/12: option declined); D Mariano Trujillo (12/12: option declined)

Colorado Rapids

IN: M Baggio Husidic (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/Chicago); D Hunter Freeman (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/Houston)

OUT: M Sanna Nyassi (11/23: expansion draft); D Mike Holody (12/12: option declined); MBaggio Husidic (12/23: free/Hammarby)

Columbus Crew

IN: D Carlos Mendes (12/5: Re-Entry Stage 1/New York); G Matt Lampson (12/15: Home Grown)

OUT: D Josh Gardner (11/23: expansion draft); M Santiago Prim (11/23: waived); D Dejan Rusmir (11/23: waived); F Andrés Mendoza(12/6: option declined); M Kevin Burns (12/12: option declined); F Jeff Cunningham (12/12: option declined)

DC United

IN: D Robbie Russell (11/29: trade from RSL)

OUT: M Santino Quaranta (12/7: retired); DMarc Burch (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/Seattle); MClyde Simms (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/New England); M Brandon Barklage (12/12: option declined); G Steve Cronin (12/12: option declined); F Joseph Ngwenya (12/12: option declined); D Jed Zayner (12/12: option declined); D Devon McTavish (12/22: retired)

FC Dallas

IN:

OUT: D Edson Edward (11/23: waived); DJeremy Hall (11/29: trade to Toronto); F Maykel Galindo (12/12: option declined); F Maicon Santos (12/12: option declined); M Marvin Chávez (12/16: trade to San Jose)

Houston Dynamo

IN: M Nathan Sturgis (12/29: trade from Toronto)

OUT: F Brian Ching (11/23: expansion draft); MFrancisco Navas Cobo (11/23: waived); G Evan Newton (11/23: waived); F Carlo Costly (11/24: option declined); D Hunter Freeman (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/Colorado); F Jason Garey (12/12: option declined); D Eddie Robinson (12/12: option declined)

LA Galaxy

IN: D Andrew Boyens (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/Chivas USA); D Chris Leitch (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/San Jose); F Pat Noonan (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/Seattle); G Jon Conway (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/Chicago); M Marcelo Sarvas(12/13: free/Alajuelense); M Jose Villarreal(12/22: Home Grown)

OUT: D Gregg Berhalter (12/9: retired);G Donovan Ricketts (11/28: trade to Montreal Impact)

Montreal Impact

IN: D Nelson Rivas (10/3: free/Inter Milan, Italy); G Evan Bush (10/21: NASL Impact); D Sinisa Ubiparipovic (11/1: NASL Impact); M Hassoun Camara (11/3: NASL Impact); D Jeb Brovsky (11/23: expansion draft); D Bobby Burling (11/23: expansion draft); F Brian Ching (11/23: expansion draft); D Josh Gardner (11/23: expansion draft); M Justin Mapp (11/23: expansion draft); M Sanna Nyassi (11/23: expansion draft); D James Riley(11/23: expansion draft); D Seth Sinovic (11/23: expansion draft); M Collen Warner (11/23: expansion draft); D Zarek Valentin (11/23: expansion draft); F Justin Braun (11/23: trade from Chivas USA); M Gerson Mayen (11/23: trade from Chivas USA); D Tyson Wahl (11/23: trade from Seattle Sounders); M Bryan Arguez(11/25: free/Ft.

United States Under-23 coach Caleb Porter has been a star here in the US at the collegiate level, and is now charged with the responsibilities of managing the US Olympic team. His goals are not only to qualify for the Olympics, but also to help develop a nucleus that will compete for the US in the 2014 World Cup.

L'Impact Montréal, we love you and your Muppets

Over in Quebec (and the whole of North America), the Montréal Impact are starting to create a steady buzz in the football community as they get ready to join MLS. I wrote a piece for The Football Ramble on the unique challenges facing L'Impact.

L'Impact Montréal, we love you and your Muppets

Over in Quebec (and the whole of North America), the Montréal Impact are starting to create a steady buzz in the football community as they get ready to join MLS. I wrote a piece for The Football Ramble on the unique challenges facing L'Impact.

We've reached the end of our MLS offseason rainbow. In lieu of breaking down all 10 East teams, I've decided to forego a look-in on Montreal. We're too close to the expansion draft to be able to break down this team practically, and there's not much to look at until we see how they play together. I will say this: I don't see the Impact escaping a freshman doldrums, but it should be a better year

The Perfect Getaway

New site LOLMLS.com presents their theory on how Brian Ching will escape from Montreal. Quite funny.

Another top striker considering skipping MLS for the prizes in Europe? It sure seems that way. According to Soccer By Ives, Akron sophomore Darren Mattocks is considering to pass on the proposed Generation adidas deal that the league is offering him to go to Europe.

The Jamaican-born striker is said to be fielding offers from clubs in Sweden, Norway and Denmark.

Today MLS announced the national television games for MLS First Kick the weekend of March 10th. Sporting KC isn't going to be on national television for their season opener, but the announcement does narrow the field for who Sporting KC could play on the first weekend. The national broadcasts kick off on Saturday on TSN in Canada as one of last year's expansion sides, Vancouver, take on this year's expansion side, Montreal in Vancouver.

Bobby Convey is headed to KC. (Getty Images)

You have to like what some clubs are doing right now. This week has been a big week of trades as clubs get ready for the First Stage of the Re-Entry Draft next week. Today another trade came down the pipe and while others haven't been as big this one certainly has the makings of being pretty huge.

Por snedecor
Dicen los estudios que Montreal es una de las ciudades con mejor calidad de vida de toda Norteamérica. Un lugar próspero, grande pero tranquilo, con el encanto de la Europa más añeja, situado en un entorno natural privilegiado y con una variada e infinita oferta cultural para deleite de habitantes y turistas.

Today MLS announced the dates for all teams' home openers for the 2012 season. Sporting Kansas City will have their first home game on March 17th, St. Patrick's Day. That's certainly going to make for a fun day for the Cauldron enjoying St. Patrick's Day and a game at the same time. KC will open home season the same weekend as 3 other teams, Montreal, Salt Lake, and Philadelphia, which means that any of the other 15 other teams could be KC's first opponent.

Photo by David Bernal/ISIphotos.com

Sporting Kansas City's busy week continues.

After dealing Davy Arnaud to Montreal to re-acquire Seth Sinovic and re-signing goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen, Sporting KC added depth to its midfield Tuesday, acquiring Paulo Nagamura from Chivas USA in exchange for a first-round pick in the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft.

On Tuesday, Major League Soccer released the dates for the 2012 home openers. The opponents have yet to be named, with the full schedule expected to be released in January. Houston doesn't debut their new stadium until week 10, and Montreal has yet to settle on a date for the opening of the reconstructed Saputo Stadium.

Marsch wants Hainault and draft picks for Ching

Montreal coach Jesse Marsch, according to Fox Sports, covets Canadian national team defender Andre Hainault and the framework of any deal will begin with him and also include draft picks.

Welcome to The Yorkies' regular off-season rumour roundup - "The Rumoumeter". Too busy to keep your TFC ear to the ground every week? Just stop by the site and we will quickly show you what rumours are hot - and which ones have hit the back burner. Some of the rumours have weight - others little more than whispers; we take their temperature with.

During today's expansion draft I just about thought that Sporting KC would get out of the draft without losing a player. Montreal made 9 picks and a Sporting KC player had not been selected. Then with the 10th and final pick the Impact ripped the hearts out of many Sporting KC fans by selecting Seth Sinovic.

I have yet to track down exactly who it might be but here are a couple of things I have found out:

• 1 Portland Timber is Retiring possibly more
• 2 or more Portland Timbers did not have their contracts renewed
• 1 DP Signing could be announced in the next two weeks as Wilkinson is in talks with an international player
• 2 or more Timbers will be getting their Green Cards and therefore will not be using an international slot

The 1 retiring player is not Adin Brown but I believe he is one "possibly more".

Justin Mapp was selected by Montreal in the round of the 2012 Expansion Draft.

Since joining the Union after being acquired in a trade with Chicago Fire on July 26, 2010 in exchange for allocation money, Mapp has played in 46 games with 35 starts, scoring four goals with eight assists.

1. Brian Ching
2. Zarek Valentin
3. Justin Mapp
4. Bobby Burling
5. 5
6. Colin Warner
7. Josh Gardner

The next big day on the MLS calendar is Dec.

Alright, it was just released so I figured I'd do a quick breakdown here and highlight who I thought would be protected and who ended up being protected and what it might mean for the team.

The actual protection list from the Union's website.

My Own List (Posted November 5th)

Mondragon, Williams, Califf, Valdes, G.

Ok, I am in a strange place mentally today.
Imagine that Toronto FC had instantly become the Barcelona of MLS and everything they had ever done had turned into football gold. Expansion draft day arrives for Montreal and their leadership says we must pick up all the ex-TFC players that we can, since their castoffs might still have some of the Toronto magic to them.

Colorado just unveiled their protected list for the expansion draft:
Conor CaseyOmar CummingsDanny Earls - InternationalJeff LarentowiczPablo MastroeniDrew MoorBrian MullanJoseph Nane - InternationalMatt PickensJamie Smith - InternationalMarvell Wynne
You can see that the pictured Kosuke Kimura is not on the protected list.

Today is the big press releases full of protected players day. Personally it feels like a healing balm to help with the festering burn wound that was yesterday's Cup final.

Here is your creamy filled list of protected goodness:

Sean Johnson - GK
Cory Gibbs - DEF
Jalil Anibaba - DEF
Gonzalo Segares - DEF
Pavel Pardo - MID
Logan Pause - MID
Marco Pappa - MID
Sebastian Grazzini - MID
Orr Barouch - FWD
Patrick Nyarko - FWD
Dominic Oduro - FWD

Join me for some frothy instant analysis after the break.

Well Vasco is back. I have been away for awhile, health issues. Well the MLS season is over and the best team money can buy in MLS won the whole darn thing. The Cup and the shield, congrats to Bruce and the gang on their victory.
Lets recap some of the 2011 season. We saw two new MLS teams, that came up from USL, Portland which started slow and came on strong, and almost made the playoffs, and Vancouver that came on weak, and got worse.