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.

While the transfer window in Europe opens up in less than 48 hours, Major League Soccer teams have been busy since the season ended, rebuilding and retooling for next season. Here is a team-by-team look at what each side has done so far this offseason. Who has had the best offseason?

Chicago Fire

IN: G Jay Nolly (12/5: trade from Vancouver); F Kheli Dube (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/New England)

OUT: F Christian Nazarit (12/7: option declined); F Gabriel Ferrari (12/7: option declined); G Alec Dufty (12/12: option declined); M Baggio Husidic(12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/Colorado); G Jon Conway (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/LA Galaxy)

Chivas USA

IN: M Ryan Smith (11/21: trade from Sporting KC); D James Riley (11/23: from Seattle, via trade from Montreal); M Arturo Alvarez (12/5: Re-Entry Stage 1/RSL); M Oswaldo Minda(12/21: SD Quito)

OUT: F Justin Braun (11/23: trade to Montreal); M Gerson Mayen (11/23: trade to Montreal); D Zarek Valentin (11/23: expansion draft); MPaulo Nagamura (11/29: trade to Sporting KC); D Andrew Boyens (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/LA Galaxy); F Chukwudi Chujindu (12/12: option declined); M Simon Elliott (12/12: out of contract); G Zach Thornton (12/12: option declined); D Mariano Trujillo (12/12: option declined)

Colorado Rapids

IN: M Baggio Husidic (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/Chicago); D Hunter Freeman (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/Houston)

OUT: M Sanna Nyassi (11/23: expansion draft); D Mike Holody (12/12: option declined); MBaggio Husidic (12/23: free/Hammarby)

Columbus Crew

IN: D Carlos Mendes (12/5: Re-Entry Stage 1/New York); G Matt Lampson (12/15: Home Grown)

OUT: D Josh Gardner (11/23: expansion draft); M Santiago Prim (11/23: waived); D Dejan Rusmir (11/23: waived); F Andrés Mendoza(12/6: option declined); M Kevin Burns (12/12: option declined); F Jeff Cunningham (12/12: option declined)

DC United

IN: D Robbie Russell (11/29: trade from RSL)

OUT: M Santino Quaranta (12/7: retired); DMarc Burch (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/Seattle); MClyde Simms (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/New England); M Brandon Barklage (12/12: option declined); G Steve Cronin (12/12: option declined); F Joseph Ngwenya (12/12: option declined); D Jed Zayner (12/12: option declined); D Devon McTavish (12/22: retired)

FC Dallas

IN:

OUT: D Edson Edward (11/23: waived); DJeremy Hall (11/29: trade to Toronto); F Maykel Galindo (12/12: option declined); F Maicon Santos (12/12: option declined); M Marvin Chávez (12/16: trade to San Jose)

Houston Dynamo

IN: M Nathan Sturgis (12/29: trade from Toronto)

OUT: F Brian Ching (11/23: expansion draft); MFrancisco Navas Cobo (11/23: waived); G Evan Newton (11/23: waived); F Carlo Costly (11/24: option declined); D Hunter Freeman (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/Colorado); F Jason Garey (12/12: option declined); D Eddie Robinson (12/12: option declined)

LA Galaxy

IN: D Andrew Boyens (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/Chivas USA); D Chris Leitch (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/San Jose); F Pat Noonan (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/Seattle); G Jon Conway (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/Chicago); M Marcelo Sarvas(12/13: free/Alajuelense); M Jose Villarreal(12/22: Home Grown)

OUT: D Gregg Berhalter (12/9: retired);G Donovan Ricketts (11/28: trade to Montreal Impact)

Montreal Impact

IN: D Nelson Rivas (10/3: free/Inter Milan, Italy); G Evan Bush (10/21: NASL Impact); D Sinisa Ubiparipovic (11/1: NASL Impact); M Hassoun Camara (11/3: NASL Impact); D Jeb Brovsky (11/23: expansion draft); D Bobby Burling (11/23: expansion draft); F Brian Ching (11/23: expansion draft); D Josh Gardner (11/23: expansion draft); M Justin Mapp (11/23: expansion draft); M Sanna Nyassi (11/23: expansion draft); D James Riley(11/23: expansion draft); D Seth Sinovic (11/23: expansion draft); M Collen Warner (11/23: expansion draft); D Zarek Valentin (11/23: expansion draft); F Justin Braun (11/23: trade from Chivas USA); M Gerson Mayen (11/23: trade from Chivas USA); D Tyson Wahl (11/23: trade from Seattle Sounders); M Bryan Arguez(11/25: free/Ft.

Photo by Michael Janosz/ISIphotos.com

For a team coming off of a championship run, the Los Angeles Galaxy have had plenty of major moving parts over recent weeks.

Between Landon Donovan going back to Everton on a short-term loan, Juninho returning to Sao Paulo, Donovan Ricketts being dealt to the Montreal Impact, Sean Franklin re-signing and David Beckham, well, still making a decision, the Galaxy remain the talk of MLS deep into the offseason.

It's a very Pacific Northwest kind of day here in Carson with fog billowing therough the stadium and several hundred Sounders fans in the stands outcheering the home crowd.

Seattle has started pretty much a full strength lineup: Kasey Keller-James Riley, Jeff Parke (who has returned from concussion) Jhon kennedy Hurtado, Leo Gonzalez-Alvaro Fernandez, Brad Evans, Osvaldo Alonso, Mauro Rosales-Mike Fucito, Fredy Montero.

Conventional wisdom once demanded a good club needed a midfield destroyer, someone to bounce about over a broad range with menace and bite and one simple goal in life: to create mayhem and turnovers in the midfield while eliminating rhythm for the other guys' attack.
Some MLS clubs still have a character befitting this description, a spritely type who has yet to meet an attack he wouldn't like to kick, hammer and choke into submission.

By JOSE M. ROMERO

The Portland Timbers are still on the outside looking in as far as the MLS playoff picture, but their important 1-0 win Wednesday night over Chivas USA at Jeld-Wen Field vaulted them into the top spot among teams vying for the 10th and final playoff spot.

By JOSE M. ROMERO

The Portland Timbers are still on the outside looking in as far as the MLS playoff picture, but their important 1-0 win Wednesday night over Chivas USA at Jeld-Wen Field vaulted them into the top spot among teams vying for the 10th and final playoff spot.

Although the fans will probably remember Referee Kevin Stott's no calls on penalty kicks, or Alvaro Fernandez's missed penalty kick, this game will go down as a wasted opportunity for Sounders to level the series with Chivas while they rebuild the roster. Sounders seemed to have control of the possession through the midfield with Osvaldo Alonso, Erik Friberg and Mauro Rosales for much of the game.

Kevin Stott pointed to the spot before pointing upfield in a sweeping motion.

Although the fans will probably remember Referee Kevin Stott's no calls on penalty kicks, or Alvaro Fernandez's missed penalty kick, this game will go down as a wasted opportunity for Sounders to level the series with Chivas while they rebuild the roster.

Kevin Stott pointed to the spot before pointing upfield in a sweeping motion.

Although the fans will probably remember Referee Kevin Stott's no calls on penalty kicks, or Alvaro Fernandez's missed penalty kick, this game will go down as a wasted opportunity for Sounders to level the series with Chivas while they rebuild the roster.

I hate to admit it, but I was at a conference on Saturday and was left to follow the Seattle Sounders-Chivas USA match via Twitter. I've now watched the highlights (and promise to watch the full game) and can safely say that the frustration I felt while not watching the game would have probably been even worse if I had watched.

Once again missed opportunities and defensive mistakes cost the New England Revolution as they lost 3-2 at home to Chivas USA on Saturday.

Revs coach Steve Nicol handed a debut start to Argentine forward Milton Caraglio, the Revolution's first-ever Designated Player and he almost made an immediate impact.

*Chivas USA wilted in the Texas heat today and lost to FC Dallas for their first loss in their last five games. Dallas play the Galaxy next weekend in Carson.

Quotable:

"It was possibly the hottest game I have been a part of in MLS, so it was difficult for both teams," Chivas USA Coach Robin Fraser said.

Happy Carmageddon weekend from Home Depot Center where one press box colleague described the freeway traffic on the way to the game as being about as busy as it is at 3 a.m.

I heard of no problems for Galaxy fans on the Harbor (110) Freeway heading to the friendly against Real Madrid at the Coliseum that just kicked off, too, although I wasn't taking any chances, which is one reason I'm at the HDC (although a game that actually means something is far preferable to watching Kaka et al wander around for 45 minutes).

Chivas USA's second Wednesday night game of the season did not prove a crowd crushing experience driving into Home Depot Center tonight.

And if it hadn't been for the way to many parking lot attendants and unnecessary barriers preventing you from finding a spot easily and quickly I would have been through the gates even quicker.

Tonight's game against the Vancouver Whitecaps kicks off at 7:30 p.m. at Home Depot Center (live on Fox Sports West) with both teams hoping to do better than the scoreless draw they managed to accomplish last month in Canada.

It will be an uphill battle for the Whitecaps, the game coming a day after Vancouver fired their coach.

*For the second successive game the Galaxy's opponents - this time the New England Revolution - barely fashioned a credible goal scoring opportunity, and that was enough for the three points.

Notable: Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts got another shutout (three in a row now) and the Galaxy scored once in the win (for the third game in a row).

BY ADAM SERRANO

It was a back and forth affair between the Columbus Crew and Chivas USA as the two clubs battled to a 3-3 draw.

The Crew were able to battle back from a three decifits as Crew forward Andres Mendoza tallied a pair of goals in the high-octane match.

Chivas USA 0 Galaxy 1

Fall guy: Simon Elliott and Chivas USA fell hard to David Beckham and the Galaxy Saturday in Carson (AP Photo).

Game story

The loss wasn't the end of the world for Chivas USA, but Coach Robin Fraser appeared to take the home defeat to their closest rivals to heart.

SuperClassico weather here in Carson, so let's hope for a game to match.

Fans are filtering into the grass berm; perhaps a larger crowd is in store than the fewer than 20,000 that took in the corresponding fixture last season.

Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts returns from illness for the Galaxy this evening, while Juan Pablo Angel replaces Miguel Lopez (who is on the bench) up front in the only two changes for Coach Bruce Arena from the team that destroyed Sporting Kansas City 4-1 last weekend.

During training on Saturday, May 14th New York Red Bulls head coach Hans Backe knew that he was going to face a tough and scrappy Chivas-USA side. What we saw on Sunday night was a coming out party for Justin Braun as he along with Chivas-USA flew across the country and found a way to gain three points on the road and the first west coast side to win in the eastern end.

I noticed a couple of errors yesterday relating to the LA Galaxy's games in the 2000 CONCACAF Champions Cup (played in January 2001, but still called the 2000 edition). They've been fixed, and the corrected version can be downloaded here (stats through 2010).
Brian Kelly & Zak Ibsen were each listed with two sub appearances.

Cesc Fabregas' week is not getting any better.

The Arsenal midfielder re-aggrivated a hamstring injury in the Gunners' loss to FC Barcelona on Tuesday that eliminated them from the UEFA Champions League. As a result, he'll have to miss Arsenal's key FA Cup clash with Manchester United this weekend.

Team: Club Deportivo Chivas-USA
Head Coach: Robin Fraser (1st Year)
Last Year's Finish: Last Place in Western Conference, 15th Overall 8-18-4

Last season for Chivas-USA was one that wants to be forgotten.

The oft-maligned USMNT left back comes over from Dallas in exchange for allocation money, the club announced today.

The 26-year-old joined Dallas in 2009 after stints in Germany and Denmark. The University of Portland product made 27 starts for the Western Conference champions last season.

Union

From a conference call with reporters on Wednesday:

• Noting that the roster compliance deadline is March 1, Peter Nowak said, "The roster is not in place yet we still are working on some things that could improve our roster offensive and defensively."
• Nowak said, "Having a forward or even grabbing another defender is still in the works.

Midfielder Austin Da Luz converted the match-winning penalty kick to help the New York Red Bulls edge Atlante in a penalty shootout after a scoreless match in their friendly in Mexico on Wednesday night.

Goalkeeper Greg Sutton posted the shutout, playing 90 minutes in place of regular starter Bouna Coundoul, who was on national team duty with Senegal.

STARTERS
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PICTURE OF THE DAY
Ads on buses in DC! Nice! (click to enlarge)
-Stolen from the private stash of Kyle Sheldon from DCU.
WHY NOT!

WELLINGTON, New Zealand All Whites' pair Simon Elliott and Andrew Boyens have both signed with MLS side Chivas USA, it was announced today. Elliott and Boyens were both members of the New Zealand squad that drew all three group matches at last year's FIFA World Cup. Chivas USA are a Mexican-owned club based in [.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand All Whites' pair Simon Elliott and Andrew Boyens have both signed with MLS side Chivas USA, it was announced today. Elliott and Boyens were both members of the New Zealand squad that drew all three group matches at last year's FIFA World Cup. Chivas USA are a Mexican-owned club based in [.

Chivas USA 1 San Jose Earthquakes 0

Van Nuys' Tristan Bowen looked lively this afternoon playing out wide against the 'Quakes, producing a couple of chances for Chivas USA that included a shot he hit just shot wide of the post. (Photo by Staff Photographer Robert Castillas).

photo by Hugo Ivan Muñoz/D.C. United

Charlie Davies played his first full scrimmage with D.C. United on Monday and contributed a goal and assist in 74 minutes to help D.C. top the Canadian Under-20 national team, 5-1, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Newly-acquired D.

Chivas USA Coach Robin Fraser is taking a look at his former Galaxy teammate Simon Elliott, last seen playing (briefly) in his native New Zealand after being released in preseason last year by the San Jose Earthquakes.

He practiced with the team Sunday. Elliott, 36, the Galaxy MVP in 2000 (Fraser's last season with the club) made more than 120 appearances with the Galaxy.

Ah, the obligatory transfer roundup post. Before we begin the beguine though, let's look back five years and put this window into a bit of perspective.

2006 January Transfer Window IN
GK Tony Warner Cardiff City Undisclosed
MF Simon Elliott Columbus Crew Free
GK Antti Niemi Southampton Undisclosed
MF Michael Brown Sheffield United Undisclosed
DF Wayne Bridge Chelsea Loan 2007 January Transfer Window IN
FW Vincenzo Montella A.