offseason

Major League Soccer

Filibuster Podcast Episode 15: Offseason Now! Breaking down MLS roster moves since MLS Cup and taking stock of D.C. United's roster

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The Major League Soccer offseason is well and truly upon us, as players have ceased to be strictly permanent objects and have fallen into a Schrodinger-esque quantum state, only existing in a particular place when observed (and elsewise existing in all places at all times). Such is life under MLS roster rules.

MLS Spotlight: John emerges from setbacks, adversity for FC Dallas

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Photo by ISIphotos.com


By THOMAS FLOYD

George John has experienced his fair share of setbacks in the past year. But if the FC Dallas centerback's spirits have been dampened, he isn't showing it.

Last summer, a deal that would have sent John to English side Blackburn Rovers FC fell through.

Merritt Paulson: The Mark Cuban of MLS (Poll)

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There has been a lot of talk about Merritt Paulson and affecting the team. People have compared him to Paul Allen and other more hands-on owners. I don't think the comparison to Paul Allen is apt, as there are a lot of differences between Paul and MP -- I would say MP is the Mark Cuban of MLS.

Mark Cuban, as many of us know, is the owner of the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA.

Colorado Rapids

Offseason Training

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Its been quiet in Commerce City this post-season, especially compared to this time last year. Today we got a bit of news about off-season training though. Andre Akpan, Tony, Cascio, Chris Klute, and Martin Rivero will spend 10 days starting next week in Derby, England training with Derby County FC. Derby currently sits 12th in the Championship (2nd level), 1 point behind Blackburn Rovers), and is the former employer of Rapids President Tim Hinchey.

Rapids Trade For Tyson Wahl

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Today the Rapids traded an international roster spot in 2014 for Montreal Impact defender Tyson Wahl. Wahl was drafted by Kansas City in 2006taken in Seattle's expansion draft in 2009, then traded to Montreal in this past offseason for allocation money. He's played in 82 games between his 3 prior teams, including 11 games for Montreal this season.

Portland Timbers

Perlaza Reportedly Returns to Colombia, Joins Millonarios

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Under former head coach Peter Nowak, and Sporting Director Diego Gutierrez, Colombia was a source of talent for a Philadelphia Union team that needed an influx of it during an offseason. Now Colombia has become a place of departure for exiting Union players.

First it was Faryd Mondragon returning to Deportivo Cali, the team he began his professional soccer career with, and today it was Jorge Perlaza, heading to Millonarios after his rather forgetful time with the Union.

Impact, Timbers swap goalkeepers Ricketts, Perkins

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Two teams on the outside of the playoff race looking in have swapped goalkeepers in an unusual mid-season deal.

The Montreal Impact sent goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts to the Portland Timbers for Troy Perkins in a straight-up trade that sees both veteran goalkeepers get a change of scenery.

Footiebusiness Vault: Marketing in Portland

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On the road tonight...so here is a post from the vault featuring Timbers' VP of Marketing Cory Dolich. We completed this chat just weeks before thei Timbers kicked off their inaugural campaign in MLS.

Over the last couple of years, we have conducted interviews with a number of marketing professionals throughout MLS.

Portland Timbers Fire John Spencer

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The dreaded sophomore slump has hit the Portland Timbers, and today John Spencer paid the price.

Portland are a woeful 5-8-4 this season and are in next-to-last place in the league's Western Conference, with no road wins.

Timbers owner Merritt Paulson made the announcement during a press conference at JELD-WEN Field.

Portland Timbers shake up coaching staff, fire John Spencer

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The Portland Timbers relieved John Spencer of his coaching duties effective immediately, as announced on July 8 by Timbers owner Merritt Paulson. Technical Director Gavin Wilkinson will assume the coach role on an interim basis with another assistant being brought on to aid in scouting and help Wilkinson and the three current assistant.

The Portland Timbers have fired head coach John Spencer, owner Merritt Paulson announced during a...

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The Portland Timbers have fired head coach John Spencer, owner Merritt Paulson announced during a Monday press conference. Current GM Gavin Wilkinson will take over the head coaching duties, but Paulson made it clear that it would be in the interim only. Paulson said a permanent replacement will likely be announced during the offseason and that the team has identified 10 possible candidates so far.

Portland Parts Ways With John Spencer

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John Spencer has been given the pink slip. (Getty Images)

The coaching hot seat list is clearing out. First it was Aron Winter, then Peter Nowak, and now it is John Spencer's turn at getting the pink slip.

Current General Manager Gavin Wilkinson, who coached the Timbers during their USL days, will reportedly serve as interim coach and the team will search for a permanent replacement during the offseason.

Kagawa

What to Watch This Weekend: Aug 24-26

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Second round of Premier League and La Liga matches this weekend, while Bundesliga and Serie A are also getting underway:

Friday, Aug 24

2:30pmET, Borussia Dortmund vs Werder Bremen (GolTV USA): Dortmund begins its quest for a 3rd consecutive Bundesliga title.

SBI's German Bundesliga Preview

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By BRYAN ROBISON

Similar to La Liga and Premier League, Bundesliga sees itself going into 2012 with two prime contenders, and then what looks like a strong competition for third place. For the top German league, last year's top two finishers will go into this season expecting to end that way again this year.

2012/13 season preview: Manchester United

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It is still a mystery how they faltered and lost the title in the very last minute last season. The Red Devils are vowed to fight back. Have they armed up enough this offseason to pull themselves closer to Manchester City?

Notable new signing: Shinji Kagawa is not arriving at Old Trafford only for the Asian market.

2012/13 season preview: Manchester United

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It is still a mystery how they faltered and lost the title in the very last minute last season. The Red Devils are vowed to fight back. Have they armed up enough this offseason to pull themselves closer to Manchester City?

Notable new signing:

Shinji Kagawa is not arriving at Old Trafford only for the Asian market.

New York Red Bulls

Tactics Talk: Would Michael Farfan in Freddy Adu’s Role Improve the Offense?

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As I touched upon in an article on Saturday, Freddy Adu has not lived up to his role as a playmaking winger enough this year. A few games, specifically his pre-second yellow card play against the New York Red Bulls, have shown that he has the mindset and ability to properly adjust to the role he thrust himself into this offseason, but Adu has disappointed routinely out of a high spot in the Philadelphia Union's offense.

Cahill set to debut against Tottenham

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By DAVE MARTINEZ

New York Red Bulls fans may be days away from seeing the team's latest Designated Player, Tim Cahill, in action.

Though he won't be used against the Montreal Impact on Saturday, the former Everton star will likely be debuting much in the same manner like his New York DP predecessor Thierry Henry did just two years ago; in a friendly against Tottenham.

Tell Me About: Rapid Vienna

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Terrence Boyd moved Bundesligas in the offseason, leaving Germany's Borussia Dortmund for Austria's Rapid Vienna. Familiar to most MLS fans as the home of the other Red Bulls, Salzburg, it's a league that doesn't get a lot of coverage in the US. A strong showing from Boyd could change that, and his opportunity comes with the league's biggest club.

New England Revolution

Adu Should Take Cues from Saer Sene's Performance Against the Union

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Freddy Adu has had problems this season with consistency. He has had those same problems his entire professional soccer career.

However, consistency is not his biggest issue at the moment. It is, instead, the fact that he's occupying a vital and important position on the Philadelphia Union without much influence.

Agent: Shalrie Traded to Chivas USA

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It appears the Shalrie Joseph Era in New England has reached its  conclusion.

According to agent Ron Waxman, the Revolution have traded Shalrie Joseph to Chivas USA on Wednesday. Terms of the deal were not immediately disseminated.

On Wednesday morning, Waxman tweeted, ".@cdchivasusa acquires DP @ShalrieJoseph21 from @NERevolution.

Transfer Talk 2012: The Many Facets Of The Top Allocation Spot

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The MLS summer transfer window is a fickle thing. It's the best time for most clubs to bring in high-priced and/or high-caliber foreign talent because most other leagues are in their offseason, leaving clubs free to shop around talent without disrupting a squad in mid-season. MLS clubs, obviously, tend not to be so finicky about such concepts as "team chemistry" and "being prepared at the start of the season so you don't need to bring in emergency reinforcements in July.

D.C. United

Major Link Soccer: Time of Transfers Edition

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How about that (win/loss) against Caledonia, eh? That game was so (great/terrible). Yes, I wrote this before the game Thursday, but that doesn't make these links any less relevant. I hope.

Week 21 of 90 Plus is up, as is Kick TV's version.

The most stunning news of the week was that of the exchange between Chivas and New England, sending Sharlie Joseph to Southern California.

Ibrahimovic signs with PSG

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Paris St-Germain's raid on AC Milan is complete.

Days after adding centerback Thiago Silva, the club has finalized the purchase of mercurial striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic from the Rossoneri, according to Italian publication Gazzetta Dello Sport.

Current PSG sporting director and former AC Milan player and coach Leonardo told the outlet that the signing, which has been in the works for the last week, is complete.

Clint Dempsey

Tuesday Kickoff: Liverpool makes push for Dempsey, Clasico dates set and more

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Liverpool may not be competing in the UEFA Champions League next season, but that's not stopping the Reds from emerging as a reported suitor for U.S. national team star Clint Dempsey.

Multiple reports from England claim that Liverpool is set for a transfer capture of Dempsey in the £7.

Report: Clint Dempsey Liverpool-bound?

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From Sky Sports to TalkSport, from worthy rags to questionable ones....

The current smoldering word is Clint Dempsey is Liverpool Reds-bound this evening. A cursory thought here is as follows.

It is better than Dempsey moves early in the transfer window (before the proverbial music stops and the chairs are gone) than later.

The Rest

The Portland Timbers players have been keeping rather busy during their offseason

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As the calendar turns to 2013, we look at how some of the Portland Timbers players have spent their offseason break before training camp for the current season opens in Portland on January 21.

Espinoza to Wigan?

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The first I saw of this rumor was reading The Daily Wiz, which linked to an article from The Mirror in the UK. Needless to say I took it with a large grain of salt, even though it does make some sense. Wigan has in the past brought in other Hondurans, like Wilson Palacios and currently has Maynor Figueroa in their squad as well.

2012 College Soccer Preview: Players To Watch

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Wil Trapp could be a big player for Akron this year and Columbus down the road. (Photo via Akron Athletic Department)

College soccer is here for a new season! The usual suspects of Akron, UNC, Maryland and UConn are once again expected to do well for another season.

I am hoping to put out a few previews like this one over the course of the next couple days.

André-Pierre Gignac: Like, Whoa

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Was Mr Gignac resorting to new opponent-eating lows during the Ligue 1 offseason that we're just concerning ourselves with now? Did he take a bite out of Yoann Gourcuff who surely tastes like a delicious cheesecake type dessert when no one was looking? Kickettes, what in the hell has happened to the Marseille [.

Roberto Mancini Lashes Out At Brian Marwood Again

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Roberto Mancini has vented his frustration once again with the Manchester City board over their failure to sign any new players this summer.

Champions City are the only club among the Premier League title contenders to not add to their squad, and ahead of Sunday's Community Shield showdown with Chelsea, Mancini went on the attack again over City's lack of activity in the transfer market, pinning the blame firmly on City's football administrator Brian Marwood:

"Sorry, but for this you should talk to Brian Marwood.

Blackburn fans’ ‘Kean Out’ campaign goes to the Olympics

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We're only a few days into the London Olympics and the Games have already served as an all-consuming distraction for a large portion of the planet. One group that has not been distracted from their primary focus, even while attending Olympic football matches, is that of Blackburn fans (and their chickens) who really, really want the club's manager, Steve Kean, and ownership group, Venky's, as far away from their club as humanly possible.

Make or break season for Arsene Wenger

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It seems to some Arsenal supporters that the club is stuck in some sort of time warp and the year is still 2005. Or perhaps it's more similar to the Hollywood film "Groundhog Day" where the same thing keeps happening day after day. But with the Gunners it's the same thing year after year. They fail to win any silverware, but consistently finish in the top four and make the Champions League, where they ultimately get knocked out at various stages of the tournament.

Liga MX Apertura Contenders, Relegation, and More Team Previews

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Preseason for the 2012 Apertura is in full swing and we are just two weeks from opening weekend. Last week we talked about the resurrection of the Copa Mexico, the name change to Liga MX, who is spending big bucks in the offseason, and we previewed six teams.

In this week's installment of Ordinary Orange Fan talks Mexican we'll take a look at my top three preseason picks to contend for the Apertura title, throw out a wild card pick, and look at the teams most likely headed for relegation to the Liga de Acenso (second division).