We can't imagine Fredy Montero will be left exposed, who will join him in the protected list? (Getty Images)

Only a couple more clubs left to preview here for the expansion draft. Now we turn our attention to a previous expansion club, one that has set the standard for all expansion clubs to come, the Seattle Sounders FC.

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There are a few things we learned from the frustrating result Thursday. In ways they will influence how we watch and appreciate the Sounders performance on the road next Sunday. In other ways, they may be the same learnings that Sigi had in watching the film twice before an 11:30AM practice Friday.

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STARTERS
What does Dan Loney thing of the LA v Chivas playoff series: "Ideally, this would be a Loser Leaves Town match. If the Galaxy wins, Chivas moves. If CUSA wins, Beckham never returns. I could handle that." Read the whole thing here. Pure genius.
MLS PLAYOFF NEWS
I cocked this one up pretty bad - I woke up this morning and realized that I had forgot to link to the only MLS Playoff Preview you need to read - from Paul Demko at Bunky County. Click to continue reading...

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Fredy Montero hopes for better success in front of goal in Houston

The Seattle Sounders and Houston Dynamo played a highly contentious match on Thursday evening to a 0-0 draw. A capacity crowd of 35,807 at Quest field in Seattle saw a match that contained 6 yellow cards (3 for each side) and countless missed opportunities on both sides.

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In a match that featured intense physical play, defensive dominance and a near-brawl, the Seattle Sounders drew 0-0 with the Houston Dynamo on Thursday night at Qwest Field. Seattle defender Patrick Ianni, a last-minute replacement in the starting lineup, came closest to scoring by hitting the crossbar, but the home side also needed a few clutch saves by Kasey Keller to salvage the draw.

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Pulsating atmosphere. A sea of green with a few flecks of orange. Deflected passes. Lots of opportunities. Awful finishing. Pat Onstad's momentary lapse of reason. Nate Jacqua bloodied and bandaged carrying on like a gladiator. Lots of fouls and yellow cards.

These were some of the more visceral images of the Seattle vs Houston match which ended in a fascinating draw but not before they proved that the shortest distance between two points is a not a straight line.

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So let's start the discussion. Here are some of my initial thoughts from tonight:
1. The Onstad Bump: After the game, Alexi Lalas showed the smarts that made him the GM he was when he said that Onstad should have gotten a red card for that contact. "99 times out of 100, that's a straight red," ranted his Gingerness. Click to continue reading...

The Major League Soccer playoffs began on Thursday, October 29, 2009 with the Seattle Sounders FC hosting the Houston Dynamo. It was a sold-out and very loud crowd of 36,000 at Qwest Field in Seattle for the match. Here's a full recap of the match along with video highlights.

Seattle Sounders FC draw with the Houston Dynamo 0-0 Video Highlights (will be added later)

1st Half

Houston had the first great chance of the match as Stuart Holden sent a corner into the box and Andrew Hainault headed the ball just wide of goal.

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DC United proudly display the word "tradition" on their back collars. There isn't another MLS club that could do so. They have earned it. There was an idea that they carry 12 trophies means that they deserve the 13th and that expansion franchises will never deserve respect propagated on the net, somewhat [. Click to continue reading...

I have to say that as the summer is winding down and the kids are almost back in school, I am getting a bit late and lazy with these previews. Last weekend I was sick as a dog, but this weekend I have no excuse. I promise to do better in the future! And much love to my co-blogger Nathan for writing entertaining and thorough post game analyses.

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It is my 6 year anniversary, and so my wife and I took a trip out of town. I will do my best to watch the Galaxy match, but it certainly isn't as big a priority as celebrating us. I will be having a few fine local brews, and hope to share that [...] Click to continue reading...

Over at the SSE, the author is not too happy with some of the Seattle players after the 4-0 drubbing in San Jose.
The pathetic result and embarrassing performance are one thing, but ignoring your fans that have traveled hundreds of miles to support you is inexcusable.
Sigi wasn't impressed with the players' cold shoulder either:

"They kept it going," Schmid said [of the fans].

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I was in Disneyland for the weekend, so I missed all the action. Including the Sounders FC's big win over the Dynamo via a Patrick Ianni bicycle kick.
The bottom teams of the league are really start to separate themselves. The league certainly appears to have levels of very good teams, very capable teams and horrible teams. Click to continue reading...

Time once again for the best goals of the week. Only a few to discuss this time out.

Order of video: Edson Buddle, Chad Barrett, Darren Huckerby, Kosuke Kimura, Brad Davis, Patrick Ianni

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Three points against the league leaders. Destiny in the hands of the Rave Green. A match where the depth of each side was tested, and it shouldn't be a surprise to anyone who has followed this league for more than a few months that the two clubs at the top of the table [...] Click to continue reading...

The color is Rave Green, the direction is North and West. Some quick thoughts directly after the match. Sounders did what they needed to against Houston today in winning the three points, but more importantly played that brand of soccer we love, it certainly involved risk and hit the SSFC with a Goal Against at [. Click to continue reading...

Got to enjoy Seattle's 1-0 win against Kansas City in the stands this time.
The ECS were in full volume, Starfire was packed and the Sounders FC escaped with a last-gasp win, courtesy of a Sebastien Le Toux penalty kick in the 89th minute (via the foul pictured above).
Seattle was clearly the better team all night, with Steve Zakuani and Sanna Nyassi dangerous on the wings and the Patrick Ianni/Jhon Kennedy Hurtado combination in control in the back. Click to continue reading...

Three matches in eight days starts to wear on fans, on media, but mostly on players. The effect on this team was not fully apparent, as there was plenty of energy in a lineup that saw a few changes, but those changes were not what determined this outcome. Most often followers of a [...] Click to continue reading...

Remember if you have any questions for the players or coaches, post here before halftime and I will do what I can.
Venue:
Home Depot Center, Carson, CA
Weather:
Clear
Referees:
Head Ref: Ricardo Salazar
Asst Ref: Eric Boria
Asst Ref: Peter Balciunas
4th Official: Abbey Okulaja
Projected Lineups:
Chivas USA
GK Zach Thornton
RB Mariano Trujillo
CB Shavar Thomas
CB Carey Talley
LB Jim Curtin
RM Atiba Harris
CM Paolo Nagamura
CM Sasha Victorine
LM Bojan Stepanovic
RS Maykel Galindo
LS Eduardo Lillingston
Subs
Seattle Sounders
GK Kasey Keller
LB Tyson Wahl
CB Jhon Kennedy Hurtado
CB Patrick Ianni
RB James Riley
LM Steve Zakuani
CDM Peter Vagenas
CAM Freddie Ljungberg - Captain
RM Brad Evans
LS Nate Jaqua
RS Freddy Montero
Subs
PRE-GAME:
-Confirmed Jorge Flores will be starting at LB
-Actually, got the first interview ever for Zamora.

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This will be a game where both teams strive for a full three points for the first time in weeks. Chivas hasn't won since May 9th (only three matches for two points) and Seattle doesn't have a win in league play since April 25th (five matches for five points). Both teams will be down a [...] Click to continue reading...

This preview and statistical guide comes courtesy of MLSR partner Seattle's Prost Amerka Soccer.Â
The preview is an excerpt  -  Read the full preview at Prost Amerika Soccer.

Sounders return to the site of their worst result of the season. Their sole two goal defeat came at the Home Depot Centre on April 18th where an own goal contributed to a lacklustre Seattle defeat.

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So as I was going about updating my statistical tables, and the Sounders FC league schedule, I learned something. While the second set of 10 matches is mainly at home, there is a small problem. While opponents up to this point have earned 1.26 points per match, the 2nd 10 (that includes the Crew) are [. Click to continue reading...

That's the message right there. The team expects the game to be called a certain way, and clearly to this point it is not. Throughout the match on questionable fouls a Sounder would go down a little easily and then look up for help from the referee. Most often this was from [...] Click to continue reading...

Well after Jose's latest report , using the injury reports and bit more searching I am 95% certain that this is the traveling 18. Keepers - Keller, Dragovan Defenders - Marshall, Hurtado, Ianni, Wahl, Graham, Scott Midfielders - Zakuani, Alonso, Evans, Ljungberg, Le Toux, King, Nyassi Forwards - Montero, Jaqua, Levesque What is certain is that there will be at [. Click to continue reading...

Head coach Sigi Schmid is keeping mum with regards to who will replace suspended defender James Riley for the Seattle Sounders clash at FC Dallas. Speaking to his team's official website Schmid said: "We've had different guys who have played outside back. Evan Brown is an option back there. Tyson Wahl is an option as a left outside back.

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Your wait is finally over. The Houston Leones got their 2009 season underway on Saturday, achieving a 1-1 tie with the Austin Aztex U23 team. Who are these clubs I speak of? They are members of the Premier Development League, which is a division of the United Soccer League. Before you ask yourself why you should care, let me point out a few former members of the PDL.

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Major League Soccer dissolved it's reserve division at the conclusion of the 2008 season, reducing the opportunity for MLS understudies to get ample playing time.
Despite that, Seattle Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid has been able to keep his reserves busy with a make-shift reserve schedule that has allowed his players the opportunity to make up matches and stay sharp. Click to continue reading...

 

The Houston Dynamo moved a big step toward keeping together the league's stingiest defense on Monday after re-signing free agent central defender Bobby Boswell to a new long-term contract.

Boswell had finished out his contract with the Dynamo and had been pursuing opportunities overseas, but ultimately chose to return to MLS after enjoying a strong season in 2008.

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The Houston Dynamo moved a big step toward keeping together the league's stingiest defense on Monday after re-signing free agent central defender Bobby Boswell to a new long-term contract.

Boswell had finished out his contract with the Dynamo and had been pursuing opportunities overseas, but ultimately chose to return to MLS after enjoying a strong season in 2008.

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These guys are staying.....Some others? Not so much.
Remember back during the expansion draft when we Twittered "All Hell Has Broken Out In Houston"?
And remember the subsequent "Change Has Come To Houston" posting which painted a picture of a disinterested Dwayne De Rosario and Brian Ching? Click to continue reading...

As goes Washington, so goes Houston.We got the following from one of our correspondents in Houston who wishes to be anonymous:

There's alot of talk still inside the office about RICARDO CLARK going to Europe, Bobby Boswell had anoffer from Europe but he wants to stay and the Dynamo are getting rid of Patrick Ianni who makes more than 100,000 per year, so with Ianni out and possibly going to a team in California, the Dynamo are willing to give a good salary increase to Boswell, he is 3rd on the list for defenders that might leave to Europe.

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Olympic squads were finalized today. Here are the MLS, USL and NCAA based players as well a list of former MLS players particpating. Michael Boxall/New Zealand Craig Henderson/New Zealand Chris Seitz/USA Mo Edu/USA Marvell Wynne/USA Patrick Ianni/USA Michael Parkhurst/USA Stuart Holden/USA Robbie Rogers/USA Sacha Kljestan/USA Dax McCarty/USA Brian McBride/USA Emanuel Ekpo/Nigeria  FORMER MLS PLAYERS Ramon Nunez/Honduras Carlos Pavon/Honduras Ryan Nelson/New Zealand Simon Elliot/New Zealand Samuel Caballero/Honduras Freddy Adu/USA Michael Bradley/USA Danny Szetela/USA Jozy Altidore/USA Bookmark to: Click to continue reading...

SuperLiga
Official website
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Semifinals
Matches & Scores:
-Tue Jul 29
Houston 2-0 Pachuca - HD goals by Bobby Bowell & Corey Ashe.
Attendance: 16,679
Venue: Robertson Stadium, Houston TX
Match report by Bernardo Fallas of the Houston Chronicle. Click to continue reading...

The United States Men's Olympic Football squad for Beijing 2008: Coach: Piotr Nowak (43) Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (23) (Chivas USA) Chris Seitz (21) (Real Salt Lake) Defenders: Patrick Ianni (23) (Houston Dynamo) Michael Orozco (22) (San Luis, Mexico) Michael Parkhurst (24) (New England Revolution) Nathan Sturgis (21) (Real Salt Lake) Marvell Wynne (22) (Toronto FC, Canada) Midfielders: Freddy Adu (19) (Monaco, France) Michael Bradley (20) (SC Heerenveen, Holland) Maurice [. Click to continue reading...

With smart overage call-ups Brian McBride, Brad Guzan and Michael Parkhurst the U.S. Olympic doesn't look horrible.
Goalkeepers: Guzan, Chris Seitz.
Defenders: Patrick Ianni, Michael Orozco, Parkhurst, Nathan Sturgis, Marvell Wynne.
Midfielders: Freddy Adu, Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu, Benny Feilhaber, Stuart Holden, Sacha Kljestan, Danny Szetela, Robbie Rogers. Click to continue reading...