The Atlanta Silverbacks and Tampa Bay Rowdies each announced player signings for the upcoming 2012 NASL season. The Silverbacks returned one player from last year's squad, defender Tyler Ruthven and sign a former player, veteran Tony McManus. The Rowdies announced that forward Daniel Antoniuk is joining the club and midfielder Shane Hill is returning for [.

If you had asked any Stevenage supporter a couple of weeks ago who Gary Smith is, the majority would have replied 'Who?' It would have been a justified reaction because until his name began to be linked with the vacant managerial position, Gary Smith's reputation within this country was, well, non-existent.

This past week has been a whirlwind for Fire fans. We had the MLS SuperDraft hoopla last week with a couple of new player signings sprinkled in (Robayo and Puppo). On the heels of that we had a sponsor announcement and new jersey unveiling. Somewhat lost in the shuffle was the announcement of the changes to the U.

Two weeks. Two weeks until the return fixtures begin. Two weeks until people start making resolutions they won't keep. Two weeks left in 2011. And so the time has arrived to look back on the last calendar year for Liverpool. A year for Kenny Dalglish, returned to lead his club after a lengthy time away.

On Wednesday the San Antonio Scorpions announced their first player signings in preparation for the 2012 season. The NASL expansion team have brought former Vancouver Whitecaps players Kevin Harmse and Greg Janicki, both 27 years old, into the fold. Scorpions' Coach Tim Hankinson also announced that Alen Marcina and Juan Lamadrid will join the club [.

The Portland Timbers officially revealed their third kit that honors the legacy of the club from previous eras. It also appears that the team could finally be ready to announce some upcoming player signings in preparation for their home opener in March. The Timbers did learn that it will be the Philadelphia Union that will be visiting the Rose City to play the Timbers on March 12 on ESPN2.

The Norfolk SharX have announced two more player signings.

Defender Brady Bryant, 29, and midfielder Miguel Ferrer, who both played for the USL PRO's Charlotte Eagles this past spring, were signed following the SharX's first open tryouts on Sept. 9-10. They join Brandon Massie, who was announced as the team's first signing last week.

The Norfolk SharX have announced two more player signings.

Defender Brady Bryant, 29, and midfielder Miguel Ferrer, who both played for the USL PRO's Charlotte Eagles this past spring, were signed following the SharX's first open tryouts on Sept. 9-10. They join Brandon Massie, who was announced as the team's first signing last week.

Liverpool's owners battle boom and bust after Boston Red Sox stumble | David Conn

The Boston Red Sox success story came crashing down last month but John W Henry and Fenway Sports Group believe the same approach can benefit Liverpool For the owners of Liverpool Football Club – John W Henry, Tom Werner and their partners in Fenway Sports Group – the honeymoon is over.

The following Baltimore Blast 2011-2012 MISL Season predictions are provided to Indoor Soccer News courtesy of guest blogger, Lewis Melcher.
Here is what I see for the beginning of the 2011-2012 season:
I do not see the Blast blowing out teams.

The following Baltimore Blast 2011-2012 MISL Season predictions are provided to Indoor Soccer News courtesy of guest blogger, Lewis Melcher.
Here is what I see for the beginning of the 2011-2012 season:
I do not see the Blast blowing out teams. Since the Blast will have a lot of new players to get used to playing with their veterans I would expect that they will loose steam early on with five back-to-back games and two games with only one day off on the schedule.

The teams of the MISL have continued to be active in building their rosters for the impending 2011-2012 season. See a wrap-up of player signings that have taken place this week below:
Comets Re-Sign Pardo
The Missouri Comets announced today the re-signing of goalkeeper Boris Pardo through the 2012-2013 season, pending league approval.

The teams of the MISL have continued to be active in building their rosters for the impending 2011-2012 season. See a wrap-up of player signings that have taken place this week below:
Comets Re-Sign Pardo
The Missouri Comets announced today the re-signing of goalkeeper Boris Pardo through the 2012-2013 season, pending league approval.

After releasing its initial list of player salaries in May, the MLS Players' Union recently released an updated edition, which includes all of the new signings from an active summer transfer period.

More recent Designated Player signings Robbie Keane, Frank Rost, Mustapha Jarju, Jeferson, Milton Caraglio, Danny Koevermans and Torsten Frings are included in the bunch.

Photo: Earl Gardner

Whenever the Major League Soccer Players Union releases players' salary numbers, it's usually the rare opportunity to step back and see who's worth their salary and who's not. So that's exactly what we're going to do here, with a look at each Union player's salary and evaluation of whether they're worth it or not.

*The MLS trade deadline is 2 p.m. tomorrow, so clubs looking at adding to their roster for the final run-in to the season (we're looking at you Chivas USA) had better pull the trigger quick.

From the MLS press release:

All player signings, trades, and transactions must be completed as of 5:00 p.

Major League Soccer is on a mission to foster an environment where teams take more of a chance on signing young, foreign stars-in-the-making, and it is giving teams the financial flexibility to be more open to bringing in those types of players.

Starting next season, Designated Players ages 21-to-23 will count $200,000 against the salary cap, while players 20 and younger will count as just a $150,000 cap hit, MLS executive vice president of competition and player relations Todd Durbin said on a conference call with reporters.

Robbie Keane is set to become a member of the Galaxy. (Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Galaxy have reportedly agreed to purchase Robbie Keane's contract from Tottenham for a reported £3 million, but the signing is not yet official. The summer transfer window closed on Sunday at 11:59 p.m., but Galaxy president Tom Payne said on Twitter that an announcement may come on Monday.

So last night's game was interesting. The first half showed a largely unorganized, disconnected American side that was being beat everywhere on the field by the Mexican Gold Cup champions. The second half saw a revitalized American side that was more dominating. It was literally a game of two halves.

Looking back at the weekend that was in San Jose, including players returning, ongoing injury news, and the potential of player signings. The Timbers continue their road trip on Sunday, August 14 in Houston.

Toronto came into the match having scored the second fewest goals and conceded the most in MLS. However, they have been decent at home picking up 14 of 18 goals. Dallas has failed to score in the past two MLS matches.
Toronto's Strategy
Off the back of two designated player signings and several trades, the side was almost unrecognizable.

On this week's show Boris Aguilar from Toronto joins us to talk about their designated player signings. We're also joined by Dave Clark to talk the big picture surrounding the recent supporter/front office friction and talk to Jeremy Davis, the General Manager of the Fort Active Supporters Trust. CSRN MEDIA PLAYER

So Toronto FC made quite the splash yesterday with their Designated Player signings of German defensive midfielder Torsten Frings and Dutch striker Danny Koevermans. Both are impressive in their own right, if not a little old at 34 and 32, respectively. Certainly doesn't help MLS's reputation as being a "retirement" league, but I suppose that won't change for a while.

You'll already be aware that Aston Villa issued an official statement earlier this evening confirming the intention to interview Alex McLeish. Birmingham City have issued their own statement declaring their intention to take legal action in response.

Both statements in full:

Aston Villa Football Club
This is a message to the fans of Aston Villa.

You'll already be aware that Aston Villa issued an official statement earlier this evening confirming the intention to interview Alex McLeish. Birmingham City have issued their own statement declaring their intention to take legal action in response.

Both statements in full:

Aston Villa Football Club
This is a message to the fans of Aston Villa.

[Editor's Note: Great analysis on what the Union's salary cap breakdown is.]

Prior to the start of every Major League Soccer season, the MLS Competition Committee meets to determine how much allocation money each team deserves. Allocation money is used to help ease salary cap burdens by allowing teams to "buy down" the salary of anyone making more than the league maximum $335,000, to re-sign current players, or to spend on players signing with the league for the first time.

Kenny Dalglish wants the final say on all Liverpool's transfer deals.
And that is believed to be the reason behind the delay in owner John W Henry giving the Scot the Anfield manager's job.
Reds chiefs appointed former Spurs technical director Damien Comolli to head up recruitment last November.

Well it's game day, and for some pregame listening for you, this week's From the Byline to the Back Post is now up for your listening pleasure. This week Thad and I discuss the Gold Cup and Livestrong Sporting Park announcements, the "brawl" with Real Salt Lake, player signings, call ups, and trials (Chad Ochocinco), the season opener against Chivas USA, and the Comets playoff series against the Milwaukee wave.

USL PRO clubshave been busy with player signings this week. The Rochester Rhinos announced the inking of former Puerto Rico Islanders' forward Kendall Jagdeosingh, while the Richmond Kickers signed Stanley Nyazamba, a midfielder who played for FC Tampa Bay in 2010.

In recent days the Montreal Impact completed their "French connection" by signing two players with Ligue 2 experience, midfielder Idriss Ech-Chergui and defender Kevin Hatchi. The signings bring Montreal to the seven foreign player roster limit.

While the New England Revolution fans have been waiting for news of a big dollar, big name Designated Player (DP), the team has instead added a couple experienced, if not front of mind, French internationals: Ousmane Dabo and Didier Domi.

The first question across many Revolution fans' minds: Who?

VANCOUVER, BC Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced Nizar Khalfan and Gershon Koffie as their first two international player signings on Wednesday. The duo became the sixth and seventh signings from last season's USSF D-2 Pro League squad and the latest in an ever-growing pool of African MLS players. Eschewing big name signings like David Beckham [.

2011 NASL Combine held in Fort Lauderdale, FL this past weekend.

The 2011 NASL combine ended Sunday in Ft. Lauderdale with the opportunity for over 70 players to impress the league's eight coaches, assistant coaches such as the Puerto Rico Islanders' assistant Adrian Whitbread, Traffic USA Director of Soccer Fernando Clavijo and observers from other leagues.

The Fire have announced the first of two international player signings and mystery international striker number one is indeed Uruguayan Gaston Puerari.

Puerari has played in the Uruguayan first division the last four seasons with Rampla Juniors and most recently Montevideo Wanderers.

Over the last couple of years, we have conducted interviews with a number of marketing professionals throughout MLS. These Q&As have provided great insight into the marketing strategies and goals of various franchises. Within the league, the Portland Timbers are one of the most exciting marketing stories of 2011.

The Fire announced their pre-season schedule today. Players are due to report to Toyota Park on Thursday before starting training next week at the Bridgeview Sports Dome. Among the players reporting will be new additions Cory Gibbs, Daniel Paladini, Josip Mikulic, Jalil Anibaba, Jason Herrick, Jon Conway, Davis Paul, Yannick Salmon, Amani Walker, Sam Arthur, and Open Try-Out winner Pari Pantazopoulos.

Carlos Valdes

Union

The Union has a couple of posts on their website about the Bimbo shirt sponsorship deal. Of particular interest is this quote from Nick Sakiewicz. "In about a week, fans will begin to see the impact of this partnership because we're going to be announcing some significant player signings.

I have a pet hate when it comes to Harry Redknapp and that's his inability to keep his mouth shut. However, I'm not stupid enough to assume everything he says are his own opinions, especially when it comes to player signings. I may be completely wrong but judging by the odd comment here and there about what he's allowed to say and what he's not I think it's safe to assume someone within the club briefs him regularly.