2012 MLS Power Rankings: Preseason

Another year of Major League Soccer is dawning on the world. It seems as if the Los Angeles Galaxy lifted the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy, that chalice of footballing glory in the United States and Canada, only yesterday.But yesterday seems like two months ago, and a clean slate awaits the defending MLS Cup and Supporters Shield holders. Now L.A. finds itself in a race with 18 other teams hunting for hardware, the newest side being the Montreal Impact, who have an intention of living up to their moniker.As part of Bleacher Report's continuing coverage of the 2012 MLS season, we bring you the preseason power rankings for the league's 17th season. Sit back and enjoy the ride.Begin Slideshow

MLS SuperDraft: The Best Draft Picks Since 2000

After a busy 2012 MLS SuperDraft, this article takes a look back at the best players to come into Major League Soccer from the NCAA ranks.  Some teams place very little importance to this drafting process and the quality that can be gained from subsequent drafting. This article will give a little life to this process and show just how important a good draft can be to the success of an MLS franchise.  Counting down the best MLS picks of the past decade.Begin Slideshow

MLS Signing: Toronto FC Make Eckersley Move Permanent

After a few terrible seasons without any real quality in the full-back positions, Toronto has locked up a mainstay starter to secure this position.  Last season, English full-back Richard Eckersley was signed on loan from League Championship side Burnley.  In his first season with The Reds, Eckersley showed competence at right-back, a desire to push forward and attack from the back, as well as great heart and desire on the pitch.  However, after finally finding the right-back the team needed, it became evident that retaining Eckersley from his loaner team would not be an easy task due to finances and league policies.  In fact, there were several instances in this short offseason where it appeared as though this signing would not be possible.  On Thursday, January 26, Toronto FC officially announced the re-signing of the former Manchester United youth defender Richard Eckersley.  At only 22 years of age, Eckersley holds and has already proven a great deal of potential to be successful in the MLS.  Both team and fans alike can breathe one deep sigh of relief that this deal has been finalized.  Per Toronto FC, club manager and technical director Aron Winter stated: “Signing Richard was a very high offseason priority, our ...

David Beckham the Tiger Woods of Soccer, or Is It Vice Versa?

Maybe because when you think soccer, you think David Beckham.And when you think golf, you think Tiger Woods.However, it's not just in the sporting sense that Woods and Beckham compare. They have both succeeded and suffered in their careers very similarly.  Woods was rising as the best golfer in the world, winning his first Masters Tournament in 1997 and PGA Championship in 1999.Meanwhile, across the pond, Beckham helped Manchester United become the first team to ever win the coveted treble—winning the English Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League—during the 1998-99 season. And from that success came the usual: money, fame, endorsements, notoriety. Both Woods and Beckham rode their success to levels not seen by many before. While still in Manchester United, Beckham signed a three-year extension in 2002 worth £90,000 a week. The contract made him the highest-paid player in the world at the time. Around the same time, Woods was raking in the dough from his PGA Championships. He started the new millennium collecting just over $9 million in PGA prize money. Since then Woods has collected over $10 million in PGA prize money three different times—2005, 2007 and 2009.Beckham's popularity and demand continued to grow, signing for what has been ...

U.S. Player Ratings: USA vs. Panama

The United States remained undefeated in 2012 as they edged Panama 1-0. It was by no means a pretty win but the team showed that a team with a two strikers in front is the way to go for the United States' future. This camp was meant to see who has a future with the USMNT and it showed to some extent who warrants another call up. Begin Slideshow

MLS: 10 Changes That Would Make It One of the Best Leagues in the World

David Beckham reported back to preseason training yesterday for LA Galaxy, while star strikers Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane were absent as they continue to play in the EPL for Everton and Aston Villa respectively. With the 2012 Major League Soccer season scheduled to start in March and interest in the sport continuing to grow here at home, things look rosy for all U. S soccer fans.J.D Krug wrote a fascinating piece in yesterday’s Bleacher Report titled 10 Things Europeans Don’t Know About American Soccer and Juan Carlos Salas recently did a feature on MLS:  10 Things It Does Better Than the Premier League, which highlight just how far the MLS has come. So is it fair to start thinking about the soccer in America being the equal to its European counterparts or perhaps even better? Is the MLS now one of the best soccer leagues in the world?While I’m all for supporting the MLS and encouraging the growth of soccer across the nation,  let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves here. European soccer fans probably don’t know a lot more than 10 things about the MLS.While they may be missing out on a lot of good things happening ...

Sporting Kansas City Offseason Acquisitions

As Sporting KC has kicked off their preseason training program, I thought it would be a good idea to take a look at the team's additions to the roster for 2012.A few draft picks here, a couple trades there, mix in a couple free agents with the pieces already in place, and you begin to get a picture of what Sporting KC will look like on Opening Day.Begin Slideshow

LA Galaxy, Beckham Unveil Home Jersey for 2012 Season

The Los Angeles Galaxy released their 2012 home jerseys on Wednesday.  The Herbalife sponsorship remains, but the overall feel of the jersey is different from past years.  The new Adidas jersey sports a sash reminiscent of the U. S. Men's National Team kits.  The navy blue sash includes watermarked netting.David Beckham, Landon Donovan, Robbie Keane and the rest of the defending MLS Cup champions will also sport the championship patch above the Adidas logo.  Fans gearing up for the season may purchase the new kits here. Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

Top 10 Young MLS Prospects to Watch in 2012

As the 2012 Major League Soccer season inches closer, team priorities include finding chemistry between veterans players and those rookies coming into league—either chosen in the Superdraft or through Homegrown Player contracts.For teams starting from scratch, and for those rebuilding, a young prospect can be a very valuable asset to make a run for MLS Cup and to build for many years to come.Here are 10 young prospects fans should keep an eye out once the 2012 MLS season commences.  Begin Slideshow

Star Players on the Way to MLS

It's not only on silly season in Europe, but also in the United States in MLS. A lot of rumors will be flying around about the coming and goings of players in and out of the league. It's important during this time to separate the fiction (Samuel Eto'o—come on, he is on like €385,000 a week) from the not so fiction (you're going to have to keep on reading to find those out).While a lot of the rumors will not come to pass, some will, so follow your favorite teams' transactions close as one of these players could be coming to a club near you.Begin Slideshow