Coop Didn't Take Long to Get His FirstThe New York Red Bulls prevailed in the first of their 2012 preseason friendly matches, defeating FC Dallas 2-0, thanks to a first half goal by Kenny Cooper and a late penalty from Corey Hertzog. Despite Dallas striking the woodwork three times, RBNY goalkeepers Ryan Meara and Jeremy Vuolo combined to keep a clean sheet.

When the 2012 preseason opened for the New York Red Bulls, there were a lot of questions that had to be answered. No one knew the club's plans after a season that looked disjointed and at times looked disgraceful – ...
Visit http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com for the rest of the story.

Soler Swag for days

After what can only be described as a highly disappointing season in 2011, the Red Bulls, and more importantly their front office, certainly had their work cut out for them. A roster filled with so much talent but woefully underachieved had to be revamped somehow. And it was Erik Soler's job to fit together the right pieces to assert New York as a top team once again.

The Fire have had a tremendous offseason so far. We have fortified our midfield, improved our defense in the SuperDraft, and even added some forwards to the mix. The Fire midfield is certainly the most populated on the team, and one I would definitely consider it a strength. It's credit to the front office for taking what was considered a big weakness last year and turning it into one of our strong points.

Hector Rueda Lookalike Wilman Conde is New York Bound - FinallyThe New York Red Bulls, having just wrapped up Tim Ream's long-awaited transfer to Bolton, didn't waste much time in finding his replacement, announcing today the signing of Colombian central defender Wilman Conde. Conde was most recently on the books of Mexican club Atlas, where injuries limited his playing time in 2011 to just 13 games.

Hector Rueda Lookalike Wilman Conde is New York Bound - FinallyThe New York Red Bulls, having just wrapped up Tim Ream's long-awaited transfer to Bolton, didn't waste much time in finding his replacement, announcing today the signing of Colombian central defender Wilman Conde. Conde was most recently on the books of Mexican club Atlas, where injuries limited his playing time in 2011 to just 13 games.

Wilman Conde is back in MLS with the Red Bulls. (Getty Images)

This news had been around for some time. The New York Red Bulls and the Chicago Fire finally made it official today though. Wilman Conde is finally going to the Big Apple.

The fun part about this deal however is that it is really a few years too late.

Wilman Conde is back in MLS with the Red Bulls. (Getty Images)

This news had been around for some time. The New York Red Bulls and the Chicago Fire finally made it official today though. Wilman Conde is finally going to the Big Apple.

The fun part about this deal however is that it is really a few years too late.

Well, this probably isn't an objective statement, but the Chicago Fire really have started off 2012 well...just in the same way that Quaker Oats breakfast products are a great way to start the day!

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

In all seriousness though, I can't remember a sponsorship providing such a boost to a club in general and to a fan base in particular.

Tim Ream is officially a member of Bolton after his transfer from the New York Red Bulls was finalized on Thursday.

The transfer, believed to be valued near $3 million, is the highest ever paid for an MLS defender, surpassing the $2 million paid by French club Boulogne for former Chicago Fire defender Bakary Soumare.

The Hard Work Starts NowThe Red Bulls preseason got underway in earnest today at Montclair State University, as an expanded group of players reported to camp, including a massive 12-13 trialists. The size of the group is hardly surprising, considering the number of reserve and fringe players the club has shed since November.

So Long Timmy!The long-running transfer saga involving New York Red Bulls central defender Tim Ream appears to have finally come to an end this afternoon, with the BBC reporting that Bolton Wanderers have secured a UK work permit. There had been considerable doubt about Ream's qualifications for a visa, as he had only played in a total of two competitive fixtures for the US Men's National Team.

So Long Timmy!The long-running transfer saga involving New York Red Bulls central defender Tim Ream appears to have finally come to an end this afternoon, with the BBC reporting that Bolton Wanderers have secured a UK work permit. There had been considerable doubt about Ream's qualifications for a visa, as he had only played in a total of two competitive fixtures for the US Men's National Team.

Tim Ream's time in MLS has come to a close.

After spending the first two years of his professional career with the New York Red Bulls, Ream is set to sign with Bolton Wanderers after being granted a work permit on Monday. Ream will join Bolton on a transfer worth an estimated $3 million, the highest amound ever paid for an MLS defender.

Agudelo: One Foot Out the Door?When the New York Red Bulls' disappointing 2011 season drew to a close, both Hans Backe and Erik Solér assured fans that they had identified the team's main weaknesses and would be taking steps over the winter to address them. But with 2012 preseason training camp having opened this week, the RBNY roster is still a work in progress, with question marks hanging over the heads of several players and doubts remaining about key positions and bench depth.

Brian Nielsen Playing Soccer: A Rare SightThe bulk of the New York Red Bulls squad gathered today at Montclair State University for the first training session of the 2012 season. It was a chance for new arrivals such as Ryan Meara and Jonathan Borrajo to meet their new teammates (well most of them anyway) and begin the process of building up fitness.

Former Chicago Fire defender Wilman Conde wants back in Major League Soccer. This isn't news. It has been floating around for awhile now. What has changed is it now appears that a Major League Soccer team wants him back in the league as well. In fact, the New York Red Bulls have reportedly purchased his rights.

Is Conde Worth the Price?Late yesterday evening, Big Apple Soccer's Michael Lewis broke the news that the Red Bulls had purchased the MLS rights of Wilman Conde from Chicago Fire. Lewis' story, citing an anonymous source, indicated that the Red Bulls would be sending a draft pick Chicago's way in return.

Is Conde Worth the Price?Late yesterday evening, Big Apple Soccer's Michael Lewis broke the news that the Red Bulls had purchased the MLS rights of Wilman Conde from Chicago Fire. Lewis' story, citing an anonymous source, indicated that the Red Bulls would be sending a draft pick Chicago's way in return.

Hat Trick

Steven Goff has some juicy and exclusive details on the United States Soccer Federation's budget for their 2013 fiscal year. The link is a must read but here are three highlights:

• Jurgen Klinsmann makes four times as much as Bob Bradley did when Bradley was USMNT head coach
• USSF has budgeted $3.

The last time D.C. United came to Toyota Park was on October 16, 2010. It was Brian McBride's last home game and it turned out to be C.J. Brown's last home game too. 306 days is a long time but it feels even longer ago, more distant. The lineup for that game was Andrew Dykstra; Steve Kinney, Wilman Conde, Kwame Watson-Siriboe, Deris Umanzor; Bratislav Ristic, Logan Pause, Peter Lowry, Marco Pappa; Brian McBride, Patrick Nyarko.

Photo: Paul Rudderow

Game time: Saturday, 8 p.m.

TV: The Comcast Network

Philadelphia Union gets the chance to shake off the doldrums as a no-name Chicago Fire team stumbles into town Saturday.

Chicago (1-3-5) has played to four straight draws and features a starting lineup full of guys even most longtime Major League Soccer fans haven't heard of.

After the MLS Player's Union released information on 2011 player salaries last weekend many amateur capologists (myself included) began crunching numbers, analyzing data, and speculating as to the "salary cap" standing of each team in the league. It's an exercise that's rooted in educated guesses and assumptions based on the raw numbers presented by the union.

Chicago's team has changed quite a bit in the years when the Seattle Sounders are an MLS team. The Fire lost players like Brian McBride and Freddie Ljungberg, and are now a quite young team with an experienced coach in Carlos de los Cabos. Tweed over at Hot Time In Old Town exchange questions previewing this week's game.

To say that the Chicago Fire has undergone a roster turnover heading into the 2011 MLS season would be to make a strong understatement. Gone from Toyota park is Fire mainstay C.J. Brown, local hero Brian McBride, ticket sellers Nery Castillo and Freddie Ljungberg, the dynamic Wilman Conde, the versatile-but-injured John Thorrington and the untapped potential of Collins John.

The silly season is mostly over even though MLS clubs can still sign players until April 15. But with clubs going into preseason mode it's time to take a gander at what each club did over the offseason months to prepare for the new season ahead.

Now this isn't a preseason look at each club and where they stand for the new season, this is merely a look at what clubs brought in going against what they lost from last year.

When the Chicago Fire entered the 2011 MLS Draft, the hope was that the rebuilding club would be able to find defensive help to make up for the losses of Wilman Conde and C.J. Brown.

The club's wishes were answered when North Carolina central defender Jalil Anibaba fell to the Fire at the No.

The Chicago Fire selected North Carolina defender Jalil Anibaba with the ninth overall pick at the 2011 MLS SuperDraft on Thursday at the Baltimore Convention Center.
Chicago also chose forward and Elmhurst native Jason Herrick (Maryland, 45th overall) and forward Davis Paul (California, 51st overall) in the third round.