Major League Soccer: Players with a Future in Europe

The MLS has long been tagged as the retirement league, as many notable footballers arrive only after their prime to suit up for the soon-to-be 19 sides (Montreal Impact join in 2012).Those aging stars are perhaps more enticed by the prospect of living in North America and away from the pressures in Europe than the actual play.While this is partly true, the league also offers a glimpse at future U.S. talent—current national team players Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, and Tim Howard (who have all spent time playing in the English Premier League) all started their professional careers in MLS.As the league has developed, so to have the academies and the level of college soccer in North America.Finally, homegrown products are popping up across the league and representing a new generation of football. And for some, their potential is so great that one day the MLS might not be a big enough stage for them to hone their craft. Here is a list of young MLS talent that is ready/will soon be ready to make the jump to top-tier European football. Begin Slideshow

Sébastien Le Toux: How a Soccer Nomad Found His Home in Philly (Part 1 of 4)

As the Philadelphia Union prepare for their first-ever playoff game against Houston Dynamo on Sunday, much of the team’s hopes are pinned on the phenomenal form of its French No.  9, Sébastien Le Toux. Le Toux has contributed 11 goals and nine assists to the Union’s historic push into the postseason, with 10 of those goals coming in the last 12 games. The 27-year-old has played every minute of every Union league game this season.   Already a legend among the Philadelphia faithful, this quiet, hard-working player was named MLS Player of the Month for September. Depending on the Union’s showing in the playoffs, he will surely be a hot contender for the league’s MVP award. But in the midst of the build-up and the talk of individual awards, Le Toux’s feet stay firmly on the ground. “It’s a team sport, not just me,” Le Toux told philadelphiaunion.com. “My teammates have done an amazing job the last month-and-a-half and it’s a credit to them stepping up along with me. It’s much better when your team is doing well. We have a better taste in our mouths because we are in the playoffs for the first time.” Rewind the clock ...

MLS Playoffs: Why the Red Bulls Win Can Push New York to Its First MLS Cup

Last night, the New York Red Bulls defeated last year's MLS Cup runner-up FC Dallas 2-0 to advance into the next round of the MLS playoffs.The Red Bulls were able to put together a strong second half to win the match, with Joel Lindpere getting an early second half goal and Thierry Henry put the match away with a late stoppage time tally.With this win, the Red Bulls will now face the MLS Community Shield winner, the Los Angeles Galaxy.There are many people who didn't think the Red Bulls were going to advance into the playoffs just a week ago. The Red Bulls of course were barely able to reach the playoffs due to an important win over the Philadelphia Union in the last match of the regular season.But once they entered the playoffs, they immediately became a dark horse favorite by many to reach deep in the playoffs.Now that the Red Bulls have cleared their first hurdle, many fans and observers can now see the Red Bulls make a deep run or even win their first MLS Cup.The first step in that run will come in the form of the Galaxy. The Galaxy were the best side in MLS ...

David Beckham: Has He Delivered What the L.A. Galaxy Paid Millions For?

It was hailed the move that would revolutionize soccer in America... again.David Beckham would be a rejuvenating force, a new Pelé, the kind of big-money foreign player that would make corporate sponsors salivate and fans turn up in droves.In 2007, David Beckham transferred to the Los Angeles Galaxy from Real Madrid, where he had also been a mega-money signing, for a reported $250 million in total potential earnings over a five-year deal, including endorsements.The hype was nearly out of control. The "next Pelé" angle was great in theory, except that David Beckham isn't Pelé, and soccer in America has grown exponentially since that much-lauded Pelé arrival.The teams have endorsements of their own, well-maintained soccer-specific grounds and legitimate, ever-growing fan-bases complete with wildly passionate ultras groups.The Galaxy, to give a great example of this, play in the $150 million soccer-specific Home Depot Center and had an average 2011 fan attendance of 23,335, a number which is increasing. They have three organized groups for the hardest-core of supporters: the Galaxians, the L.A. Riot Squad and the Angel City Brigade.Furthermore, not only have American soccer clubs been importing players from Europe and South America for a while now (Thierry Henry at the New York Red Bulls; Robbie Keane ...

MLS Cup Playoffs: New York Red Bulls Eliminate FC Dallas with 2-0 Victory

I watched the 2011 MLS Cup Playoffs kick off on Wednesday night from the Football Factory at Legends in New York City with over 600 Red Bulls supporters. The New York Red Bulls' 2-0 victory over FC Dallas guaranteed that one more match will be played at Red Bull Arena. After barely making it into the MLS Cup Playoffs, the Red Bulls will advance to the Conference Semifinals, where they will face the Los Angeles Galaxy, MLS Supporters Shield winners, in a home-and-home, aggregate goal, two-leg series.With the first leg taking place on Sunday, Oct. 30 at 3:00 PM ET at Red Bull Arena, the Red Bulls will have little time to fully recover for their showdown against Los Angeles. The last time they met in September, the Red Bulls won 2-0 at home. On Wednesday night, the Red Bulls had to weather an early onslaught by FC Dallas when they almost produced a goal in the ninth minute when the ball bounced to the top of the Red Bulls' 18-yard box. Jackson Goncalves got to it first and tried to round goalkeeper Frank Rost, but Rost blocked his shot. Five minutes later, New York defender Tim Ream almost blew another huge play when his ...

Toronto FC: Aron Winter Is Changing the Sports Climate of Toronto

When Aron Winter first stepped in to introduce "total football" and a three-striker system to Toronto FC in January, most fans weren't convinced. When the team started the season with an abysmal 2-5-6 record capped off with a 6-2 lose to the Philadelphia Union, I definitely wasn't convinced. Was this going to be different from all the other Toronto sports seasons dubbed as a rebuild that led to no future success? Going into tomorrow's CCL clash with FC Dallas, win or lose, both the fans and I are convinced. Toronto FC has finished this campaign with class. After a mid-season team makeover, that included bringing in big-name signings Torsten Frings and Danny Koevermans, Winter is finally getting the most out of this players.This year, the team broke the record for most players to see game action in an MLS season with 39. That is a lot of faces. A kit manager’s worst nightmare. And you can imagine the task of trying to implement an alien soccer system to a group of constantly changing bodies. It's tough. Toronto FC are currently firing on all cylinders, most recently earning a draw against the notorious Union, while resting many of their starters. Glimpses ...

MLS Dream Matchup Becomes Reality: Los Angeles Galaxy vs. New York Red Bulls

Lakers versus Celtics. Red Sox versus Yankees. Barcelona versus Real Madrid. United States versus Mexico.How about New York Red Bulls versus Los Angeles Galaxy?Alright, perhaps "the marquee" MLS matchup hasn't aged enough to be included with the world's greatest. But surely they will be celebrating late into the night around the MLS offices after the Red Bulls defeated FC Dallas 2-0.Honestly though, there are few leagues worldwide that can offer such a prominent matchup as Thierry Henry versus David Beckham. Here is Major League Soccer's version of Larry Bird versus Magic Johnson: the ultimate passer versus the ultimate scorer and the two biggest internationally recognized stars.Unfortunately, Robbie Keane will be unavailable for the matchup. Surely he would have loved to get opportunity of payback of sorts after Henry's self-admitted extra time handball, which allowed France to qualify for the 2010 World Cup ahead of Keane's Ireland squad.This will be a tough matchup for the Red Bulls. They will be playing four days following the Frisco-Texas match. The L.A. Galaxy are undefeated at home during the MLS regular season, nabbing 41 out of a maximum possible 51 points. Including their undefeated home record during CONCACAF Champions League play, the Galaxy have ...

David Beckham Taking His Act to PSG? Any Truth to the Rumor?

Five years ago, David Beckham traded the high life of European futbol for the opportunity to grow his brand and sport in America.Now rumors are swirling that Beckham will be crossing back over the Atlantic to join the talented cast of PSG. According to The Daily Mail, PSG has already contacted Nike about producing 20,000 Beckham PSG shirts.If these rumors are true, there are going to be some interesting aspects to this futbol marriage.One can easily put together the pieces of why PSG would be interested in Beckham. PSG’s Leonardo got to know Beckham well during his loan stints with AC Milan. With Beckham’s play during this MLS season, one can make the case for his return to European competition despite his age.Leonardo may be looking to add more experience to his squad, and Beckham’s passing and dead ball abilities are a definite plus in unlocking the normally defensive-minded Ligue 1.PSG made a lot of noise this summer with their investors and the signing of Pastore, but have yet to make their mark on a global level.Bringing in a global icon like Beckham will grow their brand in areas they have not reached yet. Even if his skills are not ...

Vancouver Whitecaps Season Review: 5 Bright Spots from a Troubled Season

A loss against defending MLS Cup champions Colorado Rapids on Saturday left the Vancouver Whitecaps with the worst record in the league.It was a performance that was indicative of how the Whitecaps season has gone all year long—a bad bounce here, a blown call there, a bit of luck for both teams at either end—and in the end, it proved that incoming head coach Martin Rennie has a lot of issues he needs to iron out over the offseason if the Blue and White are to compete for a playoff spot next year.That said, it hasn't been all bad for the Whitecaps in a tough expansion year.Over the course of the season, the Whitecaps have managed to give their fans a number of intriguing storylines, breakout stars and rays of hope. They've given "Goal of the Week" nominated strikes, thrilling comebacks and hard-fought 1-0 wins.Here are five of those bright spots for fans to look back fondly upon, and to begin hoping for the future.Begin Slideshow

MLS Wild-Card Round Predictions: Dallas vs. New York, Colorado vs. Columbus

Two new teams, 34 grueling games interspersed with U.S. Open Cup and CONCACAF Champions League games, and seven months later, the Major League Soccer playoffs are upon us at last. The wild-card round will determine two teams to join the three best records from each conference for an eight team playoff, culminating in the MLS Championship game on Sunday, Nov. 20, at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., joint home of the Los Angeles Galaxy and Chivas USA. An exciting year in which the playoff standings came down to the final weekend saw the high-priced preseason favorite New York Red Bulls lock in the last wild-card playoff slot while Sporting Kansas City won the Eastern Conference,The Houston Dynamo vaulted themselves from wild-card territory to second in the East, while in the Western Conference, the L.A. Galaxy had the Supporters' Shield wrapped up. The playoff standings finished as follows: Western ConferenceLos Angeles Galaxy 67Seattle Sounders      63Real Salt Lake          53 Eastern ConferenceSporting Kansas City 51Houston Dynamo       49Philadelphia Union     48 Wild CardsFC Dallas 52Colorado Rapids 49Columbus Crew  47New York Red Bulls 46 The top two wild-card seeds will host the two lower seeds in a single winner-takes-all game to advance to the eight-team playoff round. Dallas hosts New York on ...