Toronto FC Off-Field Problems Could Mean Bad Things on the Pitch in 2011

Is there a team in more disarray than Toronto FC? In the club’s fifth year of existence it will be playing under its sixth coach. Its star-player wants out and its 2010 team MVP left preseason camp because of a gripe about his contract. The team has still never made the playoffs.And now there’s another team in Canada to steal talent and fans from the Reds.Things can only get better from here for Toronto, right?Aron Winter is the new head coach, a former Dutch National Team member. He promises Toronto fans that the team will play an attacking attractive style of soccer. And after having Preki, who some criticized as a drill sergeant coach, this new system should seem more fun and inspiring, especially as they finished fourth in the league in fewest goals scored (33).He’ll have arguably one of the best midfielders ever in MLS, Dwayne De Rosario. He’s a two-time league MVP and he’s a clutch performer in both regular season and the playoffs. Last season he scored an MLS career-high 15 goals to go along with three assists. He’s the club’s all-time leading scorer.The leading man, however, is unhappy. He says he feels he has outperformed his ...

Vancouver Whitecaps Could Be in for Rough Debut MLS Season

One of two expansion teams in 2011—and the second team in Canada—the Vancouver Whitecaps seem to have a squad set-up for more success in the future than right now. Only three players are in their thirties, and only five more are over the age of 26. The Whitecaps held the first overall selection in the MLS Super Draft and chose a player they were familiar with, but cannot play with them until he turns 18-years-old in September. Also, only five players played in MLS last season.If Vancouver is going to be competitive, let alone surprise the league and sneak into the playoffs, they will rely heavily on veterans on defense: goalie Joe Cannon and defender and captain Jay DeMerit. DeMerit has enjoyed a Cinderella-like soccer career. After being turned down by MLS he moved to England and briefly joined teams in the ninth and seventh-tiers of English soccer, until in 2004 he impressed Watford coaches in a scrimmage and was invited to a trial with the team. He signed with the club and was a regular in the lineup until this past summer. He also was a starter for the USMNT during the previous World Cup.Named team captain, DeMerit brings ...

Seattle Sounders Sign Argentine Midfielder Mauro Rosales

On the heels of losing Blaise Nkufo, the Sounders have signed Argentine midfielder, Mauro Rosales.  Rosales, 30, has been capped 10 times by Argentina.  He has played for the gold-medal winning team at the 2004 Olympic Games, the 2001 FIFA U20 World Cup and the 2004 Copa America (runners-up).  “Mauro brings a lot of experience to our team,” Sounders' coach Sigi Schmid said in a news release. “He’s a playmaking type of midfielder with good quickness and clever passing. We’re excited to have him join our team.” “I am very excited to start playing for the Sounders,” said Rosales. “This is a great opportunity, to play in this league and for one of the biggest teams in the USA. I’m especially happy to be joining such fantastic players and staff and such a great organization.” Rosales isn't new to the Sounders entirely. He trained with the team during the off-season in Florida. The 30-year-old midfielder has played in over 400 matches in all competitions in Europe and South America, scoring 39 goals in matches with the Old Boys, Ajax and River Plate. Terms of the contract have not been announced. The Sounders take on the New York Red Bulls, Saturday night in New York.Read more MLS news ...

Seattle Sounders vs. New York Red Bulls: New York Begins Their MLS Season

"Nature gives to every time and season some beauties of its own; and from morning to night, as from the cradle to the grave, it is but a succession of changes so gentle and easy that we can scarcely mark their progress."—Charles Dickens In less than a day, the New York Red Bulls will open their 2011 MLS season against the Seattle Sounders at the most electrifying soccer-specific stadium in the United States, Red Bull Arena.   While covering the Red Bulls Media Day, which entailed the team practicing before their Q&A session, I have to admit that it felt good to be back at Red Bull Arena and to catch up with other journalists and the Red Bulls staff. As I watched the team practice, the only voices I paid attention to in the 25,000 empty seats of Red Bull Arena were the players. During their session, I was already visualizing the southward section where I will hear the Viking Army, the Garden State Supporters and the Empire Supporters Club bringing their ruckus and inspiring the fans to disrupt their opponents' flow. Last year's 2010 MLS season was a memorable one. With the opening of Red Bull Arena, the signings of ...

Seattle Sounders vs L.A. Galaxy: Seattle Drops Season Opener

The Sounders dropped their season opener to the Galaxy on Tuesday night, 1-0. In many cases, this was a tale of two halves. The Sounders created many opportunities in the first half. Unfortunately, we all watched as the Sounders were unable to finish on those many opportunities. All was looking well going in 0-0 at halftime in rain-drenched Qwest Field. The Galaxy came out looking different in the second half, as did the Sounders. Juninho took a pass from Todd Dunivant at 35 yards. The Sounders defense failed to close in on Juninho, and he took a blazing shot past Kasey Keller to give the Galaxy all they needed to win the match. The Sounders continued to look flat in the second half. Long passes to nowhere and poor play throughout gave the fans no hope of a comeback. One of the bright spots so far has been the play of Osvaldo Alonso. He is looking better than last year, if that's even possible. The defense continues to look weak, with Leo Gonzalez starting the season with a yellow card, which surprises no one. Jeff Parke and Jhon Kennedy Hurtado seem to always be a step behind. James Riley is ...

Real Salt Lake Is the Most Complete Team in MLS and Has the Cup in Sight

Los Angeles and New York get a lot of the glitz and glamour, but is there a better team, a team more well-rounded than Real Salt Lake? The team was unsuccessful in defending its MLS Cup championship, but as a team, they looked as dangerous as ever. Finishing second in the Western Conference, Salt Lake had the Newcomer of the Year award winner, surrendered the fewest goals in the league (20) and had the best goal differential (plus-25). The best thing to like about the 2011 version of this club? It returns practically everyone from the core of last year’s team; actually, an impact player was added to its roster. An elite team with continuity from year-to-year is very dangerous. Alvaro Saborio made a huge impact on the team in his debut season in MLS, scoring 12 goals and winning the Newcomer of the Year award. He was rewarded for his efforts with a new Designated Player contract. He’ll need to be just as strong this year, with Robbie Findley leaving and trying his hand in Europe. Findley wasn’t a major contributor last year, struggling with form and injuries and missing time because of his inclusion on the World Cup squad. But when he was around ...

Houston Dynamo Face Philadelphia Union To Kickoff 2011 MLS Season

The Houston Dynamo will have a new, younger look in 2011 when they take the field against second-year Philadelphia Union, a team with nine new offseason acquisitions, in Saturday’s season opener with a 7:30p.m. start at Robertson Stadium. Despite being an expansion team, Philadelphia won the teams’ season series last year with a dramatic 3-2 stoppage-time win in Houston in May and a 1-1 tie in Philadelphia in October. The Dynamo begins the 2011 season with  just under half (40%) of their roster yet to participate in a game for the orange and white. During the offseason, the Dynamo signed 10 players who have yet to play any minutes for Houston. Kofi Sarkodie, Will Bruin, and Evan Newton were acquired in the draft, Colin Clark, Jason Garey, and Jordan Graye became Dynamo by trade, while Hunter Freeman, and Jermaine Taylor came to Houston by the international route. Two players, Alex Dixon and Josue Sototwo, were products of their own  Dynamo Academy. MLS SuperDraft picks Kofi Sarkodie and Will Bruin both ended the preseason competing for starting spots. No Houston rookie has ever started an Opening Day match, and only Geoff Cameron, in 2008, has played at all as a rookie in an opener. Midfielder Brad Davis led the Dynamo offense in the preseason with four goals and ...

NFL: Cincinnati Bengals Wide Receiver Chad Ochocinco to Try Major League Soccer

National Football League and reality star Chad Ochocinco is set for a four-day tryout with the Sporting Kansas City's Major League Soccer club. The club said Wednesday that after the tryout it would determine whether to extend the trial period. "We're always searching for players who can help our team and bringing in new talent,” Sporting Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes said. “We know that Chad is an exceptional athlete and that he loves the sport of soccer, and he did play a lot when he was younger. We're excited to see how his skills will translate once he arrives next week and begins training with our team." “Due to the NFL lockout, I’m excited to be able to follow my childhood dream of playing for a Major League Soccer team,” Ochocinco stated.  He also went on to say he started playing soccer at age four but chose to focus on football in high school. He emphasized that he was thankful to Sporting Kansas City for giving him the opportunity. The NFL reality star considers many of the sport’s biggest stars as close friends, including New York Red Bulls Designated Player Thierry Henry, Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo and two-time FIFA World Player of the Year ...

D.C. United Tries To Go From Worst To First in 2011 MLS Season

In 2010, the New York Red Bulls went from having the worst record in the MLS to first place in the Eastern Conference. Their Atlantic Cup rival, D.C. United, is poised to make a similar ascent up the standings.After finishing last season with the worst record in MLS, and failing to qualify for the playoffs for a third consecutive year, D.C. made a lot of changes to its roster, picking up some very recognizable names.Joseph Ngwenya, Josh Wolff, Pat Onstad, Dax McCarty and Charlie Davies will all represent the Black and Red on the pitch this season.Ngwenya, Wolff and Davies were all brought in to help an impotent offense that was the only team in MLS last season to not score 30 goals (21). All the attention will be on Davies, however.It seems like ages ago Davies was a promising USMNT forward who wowed fans with his blistering speed, earned their respect with his tireless hustle and got their attention with his “Stanky Leg” goal celebration. Then a car accident nearly took not only his soccer career, but his life as well.Davies has persevered, though, and has finished his rehab. His parent club, FC Sochaux, thought he was unfit for ...

Chad Ochocinco Trying out for the MLS: Please End the NFL Lockout Now!

That's right, Sporting Kansas City (formerly the Kansas City Wizards) has decided they would like to give some deserving talent a shot at a contract, and who is more deserving than Cincinnati Bengals' wide receiver, Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson? The newly rebranded side will be giving Ochocinco a four-day trial starting next Tuesday.  If he somehow impresses, they'll extend the period and move on from there.   There are no timeouts in soccer Look, I thought it was cute when he joked about playing soccer last year, but this is ridiculous.  He may be an incredible athlete, however, he has been training his body to withstand the rigors of the National Football League for the last 10 years. Soccer at any professional level is all about maintaining the balance between skill and stamina.  I'm pretty sure Mr. Ochocinco doesn't have much of either right now.  He has been on the decline for the last few NFL seasons and will be shopped around by the Bengals right up until the NFL trading deadline, lockout or no lockout. If the Kansas City Wizards, whoops, I mean Sporting Kansas City bring him in for anything besides a publicity stunt, they really are destroying what ...