Photo by Tony Quinn/ISIphotos.com

By THOMAS FLOYD

WASHINGTON -- This past fall, when D.C. United general manager Dave Kasper contemplated his goals heading into the offseason, two of the first priorities that came to mind were adding veteran leadership and strengthening his team's back line.

Controversy Surrounds MLS' Home Grown Rule | College Soccer Recruiting News

This is part two of a two part series with Real Salt Lake's GM and an agent that has negotiated an HGP deal. More light is getting shined on this rapidly developing portion of the American soccer system every couple of weeks.

photo by ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

Real Salt Lake are looking to the future just as much as they are hoping to win an MLS Cup title in 2012.

Real Salt Lake announced four moves on Thursday, including the re-signings of Fabian Espindola and Ned Grabavoy.

Jonathan Tannenwald has released the Philadelphia Union's local TV broadcast schedule on his Goalkeeper blog ahead of the official release later this week.

Monday, March 12: at Portland Timbers, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
Sunday, March 18: vs. Colorado Rapids, 4:00 p.

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.

It would appear the Seattle Sounders may be getting close to announcing details of their summer friendly. A league source has confirmed to Sounder at Heart what Michael C. Lewis originally tweeted that the Sounders' home game against Real Salt Lake will be moved from July 18 to Oct. 17 in order to accomodate an international friendly.

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 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'.

Two months after he was taken by the Revolution in the first stage of the Re-entry Draft, it appears that left back Danleigh Borman won't be in Foxboro in 2012.

According to a report, the 27-year-old is close to returning to his native South Africa to play for Pretoria-based SuperSport United.

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.

Portland and Vancouver have done well in preparing for their sophomore seasons. (Getty Images)

Yesterday I took a look at the 10 clubs from the Eastern Conference in how they've done so far this winter. Naturally right after the post was put up one of those clubs went out and signed a DP.

Today, we'll look at the nine clubs from the Western Conference to see how they've been doing so far this winter.

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.

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.

After spending a year in Germany playing for FC Ingolstadt of the German 2. Bundesliga, United States striker Edson Buddle is returning to the Galaxy after signing a free transfer.

The Galaxy garnered suspicion early Wednesday when they posted a picture of a blank #14 jersey on their official Twitter account, asking fans whose name they would like to see on the jersey.

Photo by David Bernal/ISIphotos.com

As it turns out, Arturo Alvarez won't be suiting up for Chivas USA heading into the 2012 MLS season after all.

Alvarez, who was selected by Chivas in the first stage of the MLS Re-Entry Draft but never came to terms with the club as he sought opportunities overseas, has reportedly signed with Portuguese top-flight club Pacos de Ferreira on a two-and-a-half-year contract.

Greetings from sunny and cool Arizona, where I will be spending a few days in Phoenix. I'm here to visit some friends but also to check out some of the MLS training camps that are going on in metro Phoenix, Casa Grande, and Tucson. I believe that New England Revolution, Sporting Kansas City, Seattle Sounders, Real Salt Lake, and San José Earthquakes will be here, so I hope to catch a few glimpses, assuming that their sessions are open to the public, of course.

As we discussed when commenting on the new MLS Spring destination in Arizona, preseason is a great opportunity to sell the sport and the league in a less formal setting. MLS seems to be making use of this opportunity and allowing fans to connect to players and teams in the off season. Over the weekend, the New York Times took a look at the league's relationship with the City of Tucson, where a number of MLS franchises are spending a portion of the preseason.

How 51 USMNT players performed for their club teams this weekend:

Goalkeepers (7)

Guzan, Brad (Aston Villa/BPL)
Dressed however did not play in 3-2 loss to Arsenal in FA Cup 4th round.

Dominic Cervi (Celtic/SPL)
Did not dress in 3-1 win over Falkirk in League Cup action.

Founded in 2004, Real Salt Lake is one of Major League Soccer's best-supported clubs. The Sandy, Utah-based team was has also been one of MLS' more successful teams in recent...

Founded in 2004, Real Salt Lake is one of Major League Soccer's best-supported clubs. The Sandy, Utah-based team was has also been one of MLS' more successful teams in recent...

Article by Pedro Gomes
As yet another January camp enters the United States Soccer history books, let us take a quick look back at what has transpired and what we have learned from the camp.
Rosters:
Typically US roster announcements are desperately anticipated, usually overly analyzed and this camp was no different.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Mexico seemed ready to settle for a draw with Venezuela, but two late goals coming in a span of a minute lifted El Tri to a 3-1 victory over the South Americans.

Fielding a squad largely comprised of players competing for a spot on the Olympic qualifying team, the Mexicans won on Wednesday night courtesy of goals from Rafael Marquez Lugo and Oribe Peralta in the 88th and 89th minutes, respectively.

Four days after putting together an impeccable performance against Venezuela, the United States had to overcome a sloppy and disheveled showing to escape Estadio Rommel Fernandez with a 1-0 win over Panama Wednesday night.

Graham Zusi's ninth minute goal survived more than 85 minutes of as Panama squandered countless chances to equalize against a maligned back line during the international friendly.

Why have the Philadelphia Union added a scrimmage against Florida Gulf Coast University, of all places, to their preseason warm-up tour? With approximately 12,000 students including post-grads and a "noteable alumni" list that consists of a professional monster trucker and Don Carman (retired Philadelphia Phillies pitcher from the 80's), what put the FGCU Eagles on the radar?

At the end of the 2011 MLS season, one of Major League Soccer's veterans retired. After 14 years in the league, Andy Williams chose to hang up his boots and pick up a clipboard as he joined the RealSaltLake technical staff. After winning an MLS Cup, representing his national team and building a life in Utah, the Jamaican is able to look back on his career with pride.

At the end of the 2011 MLS season, one of Major League Soccer's veterans retired. After 14 years in the league, Andy Williams chose to hang up his boots and pick up a clipboard as he joined the RealSaltLake technical staff. After winning an MLS Cup, representing his national team and building a life in Utah, the Jamaican is able to look back on his career with pride.

Virginia's Brian Ownby, a U.S. Soccer Development Academy alum from the Richmond Strikers program, was selected by the Houston Dynamo during Tuesday's first round of the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft.

The U.S. Soccer Development Academy was well represented during Tuesday's Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft as 15 alumni were chosen in the three-round selection process by MLS's 19 teams.

A name that has been cropping up since Graham Westley's departure last week is Gary Smith. In fact, Smith is currently the favourite for the job with bookmakers and is reportedly on Phil Wallace's 6 man shortlist along with the likes of Paul Buckle and Paul Ince. However, Smith is the one candidate that not many supporters know much about.

Photo by Tony Quinn/ISIphotos.com

At least the MLS Supplemental Draft day contained something last Thursday's SuperDraft did not: Multiple trades.

Hours after the completion of the Tuesday's proceedings, the Seattle Sounders and Real Salt Lake agreed to one deal, while the Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps agreed to another.

Photo by Tony Quinn/ISIphotos.com

At least the MLS Supplemental Draft day contained something last Thursday's SuperDraft did not: Multiple trades.

Hours after the completion of the Tuesday's proceedings, the Seattle Sounders and Real Salt Lake agreed to one deal, while the Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps agreed to another.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

The Montreal Impact wasted little time in making it known who they would take with the first pick in Tuesday's MLS Supplemental Draft.

With their selection, which is akin to the first pick in the third round of the SuperDraft had the main event not been shortened, the Impact took Charlotte winger Evan James, a skilled, Canada-born midfielder who performed well at the combine after helping the 49ers to the NCAA championship game.

The Philadelphia Union's used their first pick, 13th overall, in the first round of the 2012 Supplemental draft to selected defender Tom Brandt (University of Pennsylvania). With their second pick the Union selected forward Krystian Witkowski from Marist College

Round 1 Pick # MLS team Player Position Affiliation 1 Montreal Impact Evan James MF UNC-Charlotte 2 Vancouver Whitecaps FC Gienir Garcia D Cruz Azul 3 New England Revolution Dawyne Smith MF Bethel University 4 Toronto FC Michael Green MF New Mexico 5 Chivas USA1 RJ Allen D Monmouth 6 Real Salt Lake2 Andy Rose MF UCLA 7 Houston Dynamo3 Brian Ownby F Virginia 8 Portland Timbers Ryan Kowaluk MF Univ.

Yay, another day, another MLS draft. Today should be the last one for a while (that is unless there is a lottery taking place which could very well happen here soon too). The MLS SuperDraft was cut a round for the second straight season and because of that the Supplemental Draft's first round will still feel like the SuperDraft's third round to some.

The recent changes to the Major League Soccer schedule and competition format are hardly the only ones impacting professional soccer teams in North America.

Coinciding with the MLS SuperDraft, U.S. Soccer and CONCACAF announced major changes to the CONCACAF Champions League and U.

Had the MLS SuperDraft not been shortened to two rounds, then a lot more scrutiny would be applied to some of the early selections in Tuesday's MLS Supplemental Draft, with those picks typically being included among teams' draft hauls from last week's main event.

As it stands, the upcoming four-round affair provides another chance for teams to bolster their rosters as training camps open across North America.

The changes to the CONCACAF Champions League may have slipped by some due to all the MLS SuperDraft news. The new format breaks into four positives and three negatives. Travel for most clubs will be reduced, for the clubs in the Preliminary Round that advance it can drop by about 10,000 miles through the elimination of two cross-continental trips (there was a scenario last year where Seattle could travel 4700 miles one way in the Group Stage).

By AVI CREDITOR

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Generation adidas tag typically translates into high MLS SuperDraft position, but for three of this year's nine signings, that did not turn out to be the case.

Not like it matters all that much. All three fell into pretty ideal club situations from individual perspectives.

Big time changes are ahead for the CONCACAF Champions League. A change that will certainly help out a couple MLS sides this summer.

Starting this summer, the two-leg preliminary round – in which 16 teams would face off in a home-and-home series – has been eliminated. Instead, all 24 teams in the event will be drawn straight into the group stage.

The day has finally arrived. Coaches, General Managers, Owners, and PR battalions all across Major League Soccer have descended upon Kansas City in hopes of landing the next big name in American soccer. This year's draft has a particularly heightened importance and buzz around New England, given the Revolution's #3 overall pick in this afternoon's draft, and with several holes to fill, it's clear that the 2012 MLS Super Draft has huge implications on the birth of the new Revs regime.