LA Galaxy Target “Asian Maradona” Ali Karimi

MLS club Los Angeles Galaxy is eager to sign up Iranian midfielder Ali Karimi, according to the team's Technical Manager Heshmat Mohajerani. The Iranian international player's contract expires at the end of the current season. Karimi is not willing to play in any other Iranian team except his former club Persepolis; however, he cannot play in that team either since he quarreled with the team's current coach Ali Daei. Karimi was expected to travel to the U.S. to negotiate with the Galaxy officials over the past two weeks. "Ali (Karimi) has two offers from LA Galaxy and the UAE's Al Ahli, but I think he would prefer to play in the American major league soccer," Mohajerani said. Karimi played in Bayern Munich from 2005 to 2007 before leaving the team for Qatar SC. The 32-year-old will probably join the well-known British midfielder David Beckham in Galaxy.Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

Thierry Henry: Why MLS Needs More Than The French Star

With the New York Red Bulls signing French "star" Thierry Henry, speculation has begun— Is this the signing that puts the MLS at the table with the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL?  Well, we can put that speculation to rest right now — No. Thierry Henry is a fading player from Barcelona, who has shown considerable signs of slowing down.  But, where does fading talent go? A weaker league, where their skills, comparatively, do not seem as poor to the untrained eye. The equivalent of a 45-year-old Michael Jordan going back to the NCAA, playing for NC State, instead of North Carolina. It'd be easier for him to still have "it." But what is "it" for Henry when he comes to the MLS? Will he light up the scoreboards? Maybe. Will he increase attendance? Probably, for his home club, NY. Will he make the MLS mainstream? Not. Even. Close. The problem here, is not that Henry is a good signing or a bad signing, or even if he is losing a step or two, skill wise. The issue, lies within the overall MLS talent pool. For great competition, the MLS needs great players. And, I don't mean they need to just buy every great player from Europe, Spain, Italy, etc.  Talent ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. FC Dallas: Who Will Step Up?

The Los Angeles Galaxy's dangerous tandem of Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle are on the campus of Princeton University, training with Bob Bradley's USA Men's National Team as they prepare for a couple of friendlies with the Czechs and the Turks prior to the trip to South Africa. As for the rest of Bruce Arena's club, Saturday's dismal scoreless draw with Toronto FC begs the question for the league leaders of Major League Soccer: Just who will fill those big shoes as they tangle with FC Dallas on Thursday at Frisco's very own Pizza Hut Park? “We didn’t spend a whole lot of energy worrying about that,” Arena said during practice at the Home Depot center, “We know who our team is.” That team, of course, is the Galaxy's depth. “We’ve had about seven or eight injuries over the last four weeks so our choices have been somewhat limited, but in the next week or two we’re going to return a number of players,” Arena added, “So there’s going to be a lot of options to fill those spots.” Among those players have been injured include Leonardo, Dema Kovalenko, Sean Franklin and Eddie Lewis. ...

This Is The Los Angeles Galaxy: Josh Saunders

This is Part Six in a series of articles on the players that make up the 2010 Los Angeles Galaxy. In the game of soccer, players will get injured. Sometimes the knocks will tend to last a few days, sometimes weeks, sometimes months, and in a number of cases the injuries are severe and cruel enough to cut a promising career short. Los Angeles Galaxy backup goalkeeper Josh Saunders is an example of how those waiting in the wings will need to be ready to step up to the challenge. Once upon a time, they rode the pines and warmed the sideline benches. Nowadays, they are the target. Saunders knows this all too well, having delivered a brave performance in place of starter Donovan Ricketts at the 2009 MLS Cup. But one would be misled to think that Saunders's experience hasn't led him to places never before thought of. After all, he plays for Puerto Rico, a relative soccer minnow situated in the middle of Caribbean. And while Puerto Rico faces a state of uncertainty regarding its existence, Saunders has brought stability and depth to the Galaxy at the goalkeeper position. Saunders was born on March ...

2010 FIFA World Cup: France’s Thierry Henry to Join MLS After World Cup

After months of speculation, it finally has become official that French striker Thierry Henry will join Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls for the second half of the season after playing for France in next month's World Cup. Rumors started to break on Henry joining the Red Bulls back in September, and only escalated from there as Henry continued to get less time for FC Barcelona as Barcelona moved towards another La Liga title. But now, it has become official as Henry is due to officially become a Red Bull within the next several days. Overall, Henry has scored the most goals in the history of the French National Team with 51, and already has participated in three World Cup's before the one next month. In his first World Cup in 1998, Henry was the leading scorer on a French side that went on to win the World Cup. And in 2006, Henry's France went all the way to the final, where they lost to Italy. But overall, Henry will be most remembered internationally for his handball that sent France to the 2010 FIFA World Cup back in November of 2009 at the expense of Ireland. And as a club player, Henry is considered to ...

Seattle Sounders Beat New York Red Bulls 1-0, Keep Hope Alive

To say the Seattle Sounders have not met expectations is an understatement. Seven games into the 2010 season, the team that many liked to make it to the MLS Cup final is in last place in the competitive Western Conference. The team’s leading scorer in 2009, Fredy Montero, was benched. The defense that allowed the fewest goals in the league last season had allowed multiple goals against in three of the past four games and a horrid four goals against in their previous matchup against MLS points leader Los Angeles Galaxy. And one of the few teams currently making a profit gave its season ticket holders a refund after the L.A. drubbing. Still, Saturday night saved some light in what has been a mostly dark season. The Sounders beat the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena—where New York had yet to lose, including preseason and U.S. Open Cup games—1-0 on a 85th minute goal from Montero. The victory not only stopped a four-game winless streak but gives the team a new sense of optimism. Firstly, the benching of Montero might have finally woke him up. He has been ineffective this season. He had become complacent in the starting 11 and many have said ...

Los Angeles Galaxy’s Holes Become Bigger in Scoreless Draw with Toronto FC

For Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy, the issue regarding the void that Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle will leave heading into the rest of May, June, and early July became an even bigger priority. And for good reason. How could the leaders of Major League Soccer—whose margin on overall- and MLS Western Conference-second place Real Salt Lake shrank to seven points—botch a sendoff for the team's two best players at the Home Depot Center? Simple. Fail to finish. And let me tell you something. If Finishing 101 were a college course, they'd have to withdraw and retake it. Credit to Toronto FC for holding firm with their defending. Nonetheless, Los Angeles needed to put this game away. They had to. They did. Even from the press box it was hard to fathom that the Los Angeles Galaxy could not even get what normally would be a simple tap-in past Toronto FC goalkeeper Stefan Frei. In fact, I can name one, two, three...still counting my fingers here...10 chances—all in the second half—that didn't go through. And look at the outcomes. Frei with a save. Well over the crossbar. Another save by Frei. Wide left. Yet ...

Mr. Excitement Fredy Montero Strikes for Seattle Sounders

The Seattle Sounders FC did not wish to offend.  They wanted, though, to be very offensive. With goals in short supply, the emphasis in practice this week was penetrating the net of the Eastern Conference’s leading team, the New York Red Bulls.  The Red Bulls had yet to taste defeat since moving to their new stadium this season in Harrison, New Jersey. The issue for coach Sigi Schmid’s Seattle team became increasingly critical after last week’s match against the Western Conference’s pacesetters, the Los Angeles Galaxy.  The 4-0 blanking prompted an embarrassed Sounders management to issue a refund to season ticket holders. Those fans were provided with a credit applicable for one game in a 2011 season package, costing the club an estimated $1 million. If there was one Sounders player who felt more embarrassed than anyone in the team’s worst ever home loss last week, it figured to be forward Fredy Montero.  He was pulled from the contest at the 58 minute mark and replaced with 18-year-old recent Colombian signee Miguel Montano and watched most of this contest from the sideline. It was a moment presaging high drama as Mr. Excitement Montero, a high impact forward with an aggressive attacking style, was inserted into ...

Thierry Henry Signs Contract With Red Bulls—The Inevitable is Upon Us

The news MLS fans knew was coming has finally become official. France international Thierry Henry will be coming to a MLS stadium near you. And if you reside in the New York Metro Area, that stadium will be frequently visited by the former Arsenal and current Barcelona forward, playing with his new team, the New York Red Bulls. Henry has struggled at the Nou Camp this season, seeing his playing time cut by a combination of injuries and Pep Guardiola's preference to Bojan Krkic. Having Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Lionel Messi up front hurts also. Henry will join the Red Bulls after the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and is by far the biggest name to be named a designated player (also referred to as the "Beckham Rule") since the man whom the rule is nicknamed for came over in 2007 from another one of the two Spanish giants, Real Madrid. Henry will become the eighth designated player active in MLS. In fact, one of the other seven will play alongside him up front in Juan Pablo Angel. So, the question now is: How will this affect the Red Bulls and MLS? The obvious effect will be seen once the World Cup is over with Henry ...

2010 FIFA World Cup: How the World Cup Affects Each MLS Team

With the preliminary roster for the U.S. Men's National Team being released earlier this week, nine Major League Soccer players were included. With training camp at Princeton beginning on Monday, six teams will lose USMNT players and two other teams will lose players (Andrew Boyens of New Zealand and New York Red Bulls, and Roger Espinoza of Honduras and Kansas City Wizards). The biggest loss for any MLS team is obvious. The Los Angeles Galaxy are losing Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle. To show what a big part these two play, the Galaxy are promoting the game versus Toronto FC on Saturday as a send-off game. The good news for the Galaxy is that they do have Alan Gordon. The 28-year old is experienced and is going to have to get the job done up front for the Galaxy in the goal scoring department. Mike Magee will also be looked to to but some balls in the back of the net. The midfield loss of Donovan will not be too severe, as the Galaxy has MLS veterans in Clint Mathis, Eddie Lewis, and Chris Klein. As for the other eight teams that will lose a player to World Cup rosters, only two teams will ...