Sacre bleu! And that's enough stereotypical French speak for now... In any case, it appears that today's pre-season friendly against the Montreal Impact was not quite as fruitful as their previous game against the LA Galaxy earlier this week when they won 4-1 against the former MLS Champs.
In any case, as with the previous game we don't have too much information to go on for this match since we weren't there to actually cover it.

The Portland Timbers played their second pre-season exhibition on February 10, facing the Montreal Impact, a former rival from the Timbers' previous days in lower division soccer that now joined them in MLS. While the action was brisk at points, neither side could muster a goal as the teams played to a scoreless draw.

Jurgen Klinsmann has been a polarizing figure since being named head coach of the USMNT, for me the jury is still out. Soon the US U23's will begin the qualifying rounds to earn their ticket London and the 2012 summer games. The problem I have at the moment (and this just might be my brain) is that Klinsmann isn't being too positive about the whole thing.

Ted and Chris return with more MLS team previews as they open up with new correspondent Christopher Boulay,as they discuss the newest expansion team, the Montreal Impact. Also A.J. Jobe from the Crewsaders takes a look a much different looking Crew. And finally Jordan Wise from SB Nation drops in talk all about the Dynamo as they look to open their new stadium in May.

Ching squared off against his old club yesterday. (Photo via Montreal Impact)

As bad as it was back in November, both Brian Ching and the Houston Dynamo are ready to move past the whole expansion draft fiasco.

Ching now a member of the Montreal Impact played the Dynamo yesterday in a preseason scrimmage.

Ching squared off against his old club yesterday. (Photo via Montreal Impact)

As bad as it was back in November, both Brian Ching and the Houston Dynamo are ready to move past the whole expansion draft fiasco.

Ching now a member of the Montreal Impact played the Dynamo yesterday in a preseason scrimmage.

By ADAM SERRANO

CARSON, Calif. -- For months, people have awaited Brian Ching's first match against the Houston Dynamo.

After being left unprotected by Houston in the expansion draft, Ching threatened retirement before eventually being selected by the Montreal Impact.

This is a bit delayed, but in case you missed it, earlier this week the Revolution welcomed 5 new trialists to training camp. Three of them are relatively unknown: Patrick Otte, Gabe Mercier, and Brandin McClay. Otte, a midfielder, currently plays for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the NASL.

The Dynamo continued their undefeated preseason (for what that's worse) with a 2-0 victory over the Montreal Impact. This was the first MLS competition Houston has faced this preseason and it's fitting it was against Brian Ching and Le Impact. Colin Clark and Cam Weaver both scored for the Dynamo.

Brian Ching, the man who built BBVA Compass Stadium, is set to see his former Dynamo teammates today for the first time since the Montreal Impact picked him in the expansion draft last November. The Dynamo and Impact will play today at a practice field at Home Depot Center. I was in contact with Ching [.

The Portland Timbers wasted no time in beating their first opponent in for their trip down to California as the Timbers came away a with a whipping 4-1 victory over LA. Those of you who were around for last season will remember a similar goal ratio during LA's visit to Portland (3-0).

The goals came from Bright Dike, Jorge Perlaza, James Marcelin and Futty Danso with Franck Songo'o apparently playing a rather large role in the first two goals and in setting up a number of other chances.

The off-season has been busy for the teams in Major League Soccer with players moving in and players moving out. This is the first part of a three-part look at the league's transactions. Today I'll be taking a look at the teams on the East Coast and how they stack up for the upcoming season.

Besides a simple 'IN' and 'OUT' look for players, I'll be using the terms 'Minutes XI Returning' and 'Minutes Gameday 18 Returning'.

photo by David Bernal/ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

D.C. United added more depth to its midfield on Monday, signing a player who is no stranger to MLS.

United announced the acquisition of midfielder Marcelo Saragosa, the 30-year-old Brazilian who previously had stints with FC Dallas and Chivas USA.

While four trialists with European experience joined the New England Revolution in Arizona, five Americans are joining the Revs in their return to Foxboro. Luke Kreamalmeyer, Blake Wagner, Patrick Otte, Gabe Mercier, and Brandin McClay are all currently on trial with the team according to the club's latest preseason roster.

Here's an interesting early morning trade for everybody. It appears that the Portland Timbers have traded with D.C. United for an international roster spot for the 2012/2013 seasons in exchange for an unknown amount of allocation money.

Naturally one would expect that this would be used on a new signing and it may very well be for the 2013 season, however, not for the season because.

The Montreal Impact announced on Friday that more than 25,000 tickets were already sold for the home opener at Olympic Stadium, March 17, against the Chicago Fire.

The Impact are hoping to create a new record for attendance at the Olympic Stadium with additional sales leading up to the home opener.

The Montreal Impact announced on Friday that more than 25,000 tickets were already sold for the home opener at Olympic Stadium, March 17, against the Chicago Fire.

The Impact are hoping to create a new record for attendance at the Olympic Stadium with additional sales leading up to the home opener.

Good news everyone!

The remainder of the Dynamo's local TV deal has finally be revealed and it's all about Fox Sports Houston and FSHouston Plus....more importantly, all broadcast will be in glorious high definition. Happy dance time!

"This agreement with Fox Sports Houston, coupled with our overall television package, creates the strongest broadcast situation in club history," said Dynamo president Chris Canetti.

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.

Toronto and Kansas City have faired pretty well so far this winter. (Getty Images)

Many clubs are a few weeks into their pre-seasons and now that the international transfer window has shut, it is a good time to look at how each MLS side has done so far this winter. (Note: the MLS window doesn't close until April, which means players who failed to land new jobs in Europe can still head to MLS.

"I have a squad thiiiiiiis big"FILLING HOLES, FEELING WHOLE
Isn't it refreshing to hear Aron Winter and his troops talk about how the club is "almost complete"? Barely a week in to training camp and the club's depth charts are nearly full. With the most recent acquisition completed, Chilean defender Miguel Aceval, the biggest hole of the off-season - the defence - has pretty much been taken care of.

"I have a squad thiiiiiiis big"FILLING HOLES, FEELING WHOLE
Isn't it refreshing to hear Aron Winter and his troops talk about how the club is "almost complete"? Barely a week in to training camp and the club's depth charts are nearly full. With the most recent acquisition completed, Chilean defender Miguel Aceval, the biggest hole of the off-season - the defence - has pretty much been taken care of.

01.02.2012 - A cuento de la comentada y retwitteada transferencia de Maxi López al Milan, un recuento de 10 transferencias que, en su momento, dieron que hablar...
Representado por su hermano (el ex futbolista) Marcelo Escudero, Sergio Daniel llegó a vestir la camiseta del Corinthians y compartir vestuario con Ronaldo Nazario y Roberto Carlos (2008) por unos € 1.

Sebastien Le Toux will not move to Bolton Wanderers, of the English Premier League, signaling that his time in MLS has not yet ended. However, the Philadelphia Union may not be the club with which Le Toux starts the 2012 MLS season.

A source close to the situation tells the Brotherly Game that the Vancouver Whitecaps have inquired about Le Toux and have emerged as a candidate for a trade.

Lets start off Monday's edition of Major Link Soccer with a local flavor.

The North Sound SeaWolves FC have moved from their Everett home to new digs in Edmonds. The club plans to make it official this week. As you may know, the SeaWolves play in the PDL North Division. This is the same division that is home to PDL champs Kitsap Pumas and formerly the Tacoma Tide -- now Seattle Sounders FC U23 -- just to name a few.

The Canadian Soccer Association championship club series will have a new logo and title sponsor this season. Amway Canada has returned as sponsor of the tournament that determines the Canadian club representative in the CONCACAF Champions League for its 2012-2013 competition. While the Canadian competition will change names from the Nutrilite Canadian Championship to the [.

Video: FA Cup: Everton/Fulham

And so it was. In the English matchup of American titans Everton bested Fulhman 2-1, led by the efforts of a Man of the Match-worthy Landon Donovan, who assisted on both goals for his side. Clint Dempsey may have found success where Donovan never could, but in this match, at least, Donovan hushed his frequent teammate.

The Voyageurs Cup 2012 tournament details have been released, TFC doesn't get the best draw, and Amway is now the sponsor. Why the draw & the sponsorship is no big deal.
Rating: 5.0/5 (1 vote cast)

Can-Am Connection - not Nut-Can ConnectionPYRAMID TOURNAMENT
A day after getting all kinds of pun-related gifts, one of our faves was pulled out from under us like a rug covered in health supplements. The Nutrilife Canadian Championship, or as we so lovingly called it - "The NutCan" - is no more.

A day late due to the Comets game last night, but here is this week's former SKC Wizards update. In news this week, Shavar Thomas has a new team, having signed for the expansion Montreal Impact. Here's the rest of this week's update.
Active without a club or unknown
Stephane Auvray
Chris Brunt
Doug DeMartin
Mauro Fuzetti
AJ Godbolt
Willy Guadarrama
Santiago Hirsig
Eddie Johnson
Mike Jones
Michael Kraus
Jonathan Leathers
Scott Lorenz
Amir Lowry
Rauwshan McKenzie
Ryan McMahen
Michal Mravec
Anthony Noriega
Ryan Pore
Ofori Sarkodie
Sam Scales
Scott Sealy
Milos Stojcev
Ivan Trujillo
Lance Watson
MLS
Davy Arnaud - Montreal - Season is over.

photo by Andrew Katsampes/ISIphotos.com

Richard Eckersley will be calling Toronto FC home for the foreseeable future.

Eckersley was signed to a permanent move with the Reds after joining the club on loan from Burnley last April, the club announced on Thursday.

Massive Report - For Columbus Crew Fans

Now joining SB Nation's dominence of the MLS team specific blogosphere is a Columbus Crew site so large it could only be called "Massive Report." This means that every team returning in MLS for 2012 is represented. Of course there are plans for a Montreal Impact blog and it is only a matter of time before all 19 teams are live.

Rumors have been swirling recently involving German midfielder Michael Ballack possibly making the move to Major League Soccer.

Ballack, best known for his heroics in the 2002 World Cup Final and time spent with Chelsea and Bayern Munich, has been linked to the expansion Montreal Impact for the past few months.

Rumors have been swirling recently involving German midfielder Michael Ballack possibly making the move to Major League Soccer.

Ballack, best known for his heroics in the 2002 World Cup Final and time spent with Chelsea and Bayern Munich, has been linked to the expansion Montreal Impact for the past few months.

Juventus and Italian national team legend Alessandro Del Piero has long been linked with a move to MLS, and despite recent reports having him wind up with the Montreal Impact, the club's president set the record straight on the matter.

Joey Saputo admitted to having discussions with the 37-year-old Del Piero's representatives on two occasions -- last April in Montreal and last June in Italy -- while discussing a potential move to MLS, but offered that Del Piero has his eyes on the league's two major markets should he come to America.

Four trialists have joined the New England Revolution's preseason camp, according to the Revolution's latest preseason roster released today. Defender Théophile "Junior" N'Tame, midfielders Jeremiah White and David Foley, and striker Saër Sène, join the Revs four MLS Supplemental Draft picks as non-contracted players in camp.

Nick Sabetti: Picking Ching Was a Mistake

Some interesting thoughts from Nick Sabetti who covers the Montreal Impact for SportsNet and Goal.com.

The Pitch Invasion podcast, presented by Peter Wilt and Tom Dunmore, is now available on iTunes, so please take a second and leave a rating there if you enjoy the show!

If you haven't listened to it, the inaugural episode was released last week, and featured Wilt discussing how to start an MLS club with Montreal Impact Jesse Marsch, along with Dunmore interviewing former Supporters Direct chief executive Dave Boyle about UK and US fan culture.

[caption id="attachment_4855" align="alignleft" width="440" caption="Alessandro Del Piero and Montreal Impact owner Joey Saputo."][/caption]

The noted rent-a-quote astronomer Carl Sagan once said: "If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe." After roughly 19 weeks of the 2011-12 Serie A season, I think that we all can be in agreement that Antonio Conte makes the best apple pies from scratch.

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.