Yep, Sunderland are the best team in the league over the last bunch of games. Read Martin's preview for proof.

Kick-off is 3pm London time, 10am New York, 7am Vancouver, and sometime last night in New Zealand. As usual, I'll be here half-an-hour beforehand to provide accompanying drivel and conjecture.

The Philadelphia Union completed the long-rumored signing of Colombian forward Lionard Pajoy from Itagui Ditaires on Wednesday, adding a piece that can help fill the scoring void left behind by the departed Sebastien Le Toux. Pajoy has received his P-1 visa, according to a team release, and will be joining the club soon for preseason preparations.

I don't think I exaggerate when I say that people were surprised by the Le Toux trade to Vancouver.

People understood why Le Toux might want to move to EPL club Bolton and many supported the decision even if they were sad about the possibility of losing our favorite Frenchman (I will post more thoughts on it in my second part of evaluating the Union off-season when the dust finally settles).

Photo: Nicolae Stoian

In an interview on MLSsoccer.com's ExtraTime Radio podcast, Sebastien Le Toux tells Union fans who are angry that he was sold to Vancouver that it is important that they continue to support the Union: "To have you in the stands—it is always great to play in front of you and all of the guys who played with me are wonderful players and they need you.

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.

Photo: Nicolae Stoian from 2011

The offseason can be crazy in the business that is soccer and sometimes it can be all too easy to forget that in the end, it's really about the game. If you are looking for some inspiration to help you get your soccer head back on straight, go to the Ritz East tonight to see the Philadelphia premier of Laduma.

When I started this site back in 2009, I had expected the site to devote a significant amount of ink to the transfer market and the finances involved in buying and selling players. Over time the focus has shifted to marketing, promotions, broadcast and other business issues facing soccer in the United States.

Photo: Earl Gardner

Le Toux talks

It just won't stop.

As suggested by the 130 readers' comments posted on PSP in less then 24 hours since the Le Toux transfer news broke, if the sadness felt by Union fans at the news of Sebastien Le Toux's transfer to Vancouver wasn't enough, subsequent comments from Peter Nowak and Le Toux will, for many, see that sadness turn to anger.

Philadelphia Union fans have been dealt heavy blows of late. Their veteran goalkeeper was sent away and within days, the face of their franchise was traded away and not to the glamour of the English Premier League. Rather, Sebastien Le Toux is finding his way up north, to Vancouver.
Officially, Le Toux was let go for allocation money.

Union's Le Toux sounds off after trade to Vancouver

"The only thing they wanted is the money," Le Toux said. "Being with this team and being a guy, not to build around, but to help this team, was what I wanted. ... They must have wanted to sell me for money because they needed money. We don't have a nice practice facility and that is something they promised since I am here.

"The only thing they wanted is the money," Le Toux said. "Being with this team and being a guy, not to build around, but to help this team, was what I wanted. ... They must have wanted to sell me for money because they needed money. We don't have a nice practice facility and that is something they promised since I am here.

The Philadelphia Union confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that Sebastien Le Toux has been traded to Vancouver.

In return, the club receives an undisclosed amount of allocation money.

Union head coach Peter Nowak said in the announcement, "While this decision wasn't easy, we are confident that the allocation money we receive will provide the flexibility for us to compile the best possible roster for 2012 and beyond.

Sebastien Le Toux will not move to Bolton Wanderers, of the English Premier League, signaling that his time in MLS has not yet ended. However, the Philadelphia Union may not be the club with which Le Toux starts the 2012 MLS season.

A source close to the situation tells the Brotherly Game that the Vancouver Whitecaps have inquired about Le Toux and have emerged as a candidate for a trade.

Alex Morgan scores two goals, two assists in 4-0 American win. The U.S. Women's National Team defeated Canada 4-0 on Sunday evening in front of 25,427 mostly Canadian fans at BC Palace in Vancouver. With the dominating performance and win, the U.S. takes the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Championship, their third consecutive.

Video: FA Cup: Everton/Fulham

And so it was. In the English matchup of American titans Everton bested Fulhman 2-1, led by the efforts of a Man of the Match-worthy Landon Donovan, who assisted on both goals for his side. Clint Dempsey may have found success where Donovan never could, but in this match, at least, Donovan hushed his frequent teammate.

Lauren Sesselmann (Green Bay Notre Dame) is headed to the Olympics this summer.

Sesselmann returned from a knee injury to start and played 63 minutes at left back as Canada beat Mexico 3-1 in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament on Friday night in Vancouver to earn a berth in the London Games.

The US and Canada are moving on to the 2012 London Olympics. Behind another strong shutout performance by the US. Heath, Lloyd and Morgan all score for the US against Costa Rica. The US carry a 34 goals for, 0 goals against into the final Sunday night in Vancouver.Video: Universal Sports
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Will Vancouver Whitecaps steal Sounders Academy thunder?

Topdrawersoccer looks at the leaders in the Northwest division of the USSDA 18s. Those leaders are in the actual Northwest, not the Northern California teams in the division.

When Cuba's national women's team showed up for Monday night's CONCACAF Olympic qualifying match against Haiti in Vancouver, BC two players were conspicuously missing.

Unconfirmed reports say star forward Yesenia Gallardo Martinez, 20, and midfielder Yisel Rodriguez Llanes, 22, have defected from the Caribbean nation while playing Olympic qualifying matches in Canada.

The Timbers Army in conjuction with fellow supporters in Seattle and Vancouver have agreed upon the rules for the 2012 Cascadia Cup, whereby all matches will count equally in the three team competition. Despite the imbalance within the 2012 MLS league schedule, the groups decided this would be the easiest way to ensure fairness while making the process to determine the winner as easy as possible

Hope Solo is focused on the huge match with Mexico on Tuesday night in Vancouver

La Selección Mexicana femenil consiguió su pase a Semifinales del Preolímpico que se juega en Vancouver, Canadá, tras golear a República Dominicana 7-0.
Con un Hat-Trick de Anisa Guajardo, el Tri sumó su segunda victoria en el Grupo B donde le resta un encuentro frente a Estados Unidos que definiría quién es el equipo que pasa en primer lugar.

The Rapids made a trade late today, sending an international roster spot and our 2nd round pick in the 2014 draft to Vancouver for allocation money. I'm guessing the signing of Castrillon is imminent. The Rapids now have 3 open international spots and 3 filled ones.
Colorado also invited two players from their open tryouts earlier this week into training camp with the team.

Qualifying starts. Maura Gladys has you covered.

Morgan looking to excel--in a new role?--as winter closes...

The last time the U.S. Women's National Team competed in a CONCACAF qualifying tournament, they almost missed the cut for the 2011 Women's World Cup.

Canada rolled past Haiti 6-0 in its opening match Thursday night at the CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying tournament in Vancouver, B.C., but starting left back Lauren Sesselmann (Green Bay Notre Dame) was forced to leave the game at halftime due to a knee injury.

The 28-year-old Sesselmann was injured in a collision with Haiti's Samantha Brand.

The U.S. team has proved quite popular with the Canadian media so far (and thanks also to the several American journalists in town!). Of course, the U.S. playes obliged with many interviews which of course serve to promote the game, the team and the tournament. Above, Becky Sauerbrunn gives her thoughts on various soccer topics.

Happy Wednesday to you. Several things on the docket today. The first thing that caught my eye was this week was Vancouver's acquiring of Etienne Barbara's rights. Barbara was a fantastic player for much of the 2011 NASL season. His 20 goals and many assists earned him Golden Boot honors for North America's second tier.

UNC Charlotte midfielder Evan James was selected first in the 2012 Major League Soccer supplemental draft, taken by the Montreal Impact. Cruz Azul youth prospect Gienir Garcia went second to Vancouver. Selecting third, New England took Bethel University midfielder Dawyne Smith, with New Mexico's Michael Green going to Toronto with the fourth pick.

U.S. Women's National Team head coach Pia Sundhage named her 20 player roster yesterday for the 2012 CONCACAF Olympic Women's Qualifying Tournament from Jan. 19-29 in Vancouver, B.C. The top two finishers in the eight-team tournament qualify for the 2012 Olympics. The roster should look familiar to those who followed last summers FIFA Women's World [.

U.S. Women's National Team head coach Pia Sundhage named her 20 player roster yesterday for the 2012 CONCACAF Olympic Women's Qualifying Tournament from Jan. 19-29 in Vancouver, B.C. The top two finishers in the eight-team tournament qualify for the 2012 Olympics. The roster should look familiar to those who followed last summers FIFA Women's World [.

This just in: The U.S. WNT spends lots of time in airports. Here the squad waits for its flight to Canada.
Easy travel day for the U.S. WNT today. Relatively short flight from LA (not sure how long, but it's whatever is the length of Moneyball+ a short nap. Also, the WNT Blog maintains that Brad Pitt is underrated as an actor), into the same time zone and they players had time to get a weight workout in the morning and get into Vancouver in time for dinner in the evening.

I've never really cottoned to the phrase "on like Donkey Kong - but if you insist, go ahead. Pia Sundhage has named the 20 ladies responsible for punching the USWNT's Olympic ticket, with CONCACAF qualifying set to kick off Friday in Vancouver against the Dominican Republic.And as you can see, there is plenty of talent available for WPS pick-up.

The U.S. team hit the turf inside The Home Depot Center stadium again today as it continues its prep for the CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament taking place entirely on artificial turf from Jan. 19-29 at BC Place in Vancouver.
All the U.S. matches will be televised live on the Universal Sports Network.

Portland's Draft Did Not Impress Everyone

I really don't think the writer knows all the comings and goings of the Timbers or he would know a defensive signing is in the works. Still don't know how Vancouver is a winner.

The excitement is building for the 2012 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament and the Canadian Soccer Association has been busy promoting the eight-team competition. The CSA is featuring two U.S. players with strong northwest ties -- Seattle resident Hope Solo and former Portland Pilot star Megan Rapinoe -- as part of an advertising campaign titled "Made for This.

Photo courtesy of Jarred Donalson
Reports out of Philadelphia today are that the bidding to host the 2012 all star game is down to the final two. Union blog, The Brotherly Game is reporting that PPL Park and LIVESTRONG Sporting Park are the two finalists, beating out BC Place of Vancouver and Saputo Stadium in Montreal.

The U-23s are back in action to start 2012, holding a training camp at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Head coach Caleb Porter has named a squad of 23 players to train at the HDC, with eye towards Olympic Qualifying in March (just more than two months away!).
In addition to two-a-days in Southern California, the team will also head to Costa Rica for a first trip abroad under Porter.

We aren't even done with the SuperDraft this week and already some rumors are flying around about this year's MLS All-Star game. No word yet on who the club MLS will be playing, but one has to figure it won't be a three-peat of Manchester United.

No, the talk today is all about the location of the game.

Spend too much time examining the MLS scheduling format and the philosophies therein, and one will inevitably fall down a logical rabbit hole - though, to be fair, this doesn't differ significantly from other "major-league" North American sports.

MLS version 3.0, or 2.1, or whatever we are up to, has become all about "local rivalries", or so it seems.

The U.S. WNT has started its training camp in Los Angeles, a final week of practice and fine-tuning before head coach Pia Sundhage names the 20 players that will travel to Vancouver, B.C. for the CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Sundhage called up 29 players for the camp, but just 27 are currently training as Abby Wambach and Hope Solo are in Zurich, Switzerland, for the year-end FIFA Gala Awards.