18Jul/120
MLS All-Stars vs. Chelsea: 6 Bold Predictions
It's mid-July, and that can only mean one thing for MLS.The time has come once again when they assemble the All-Star team for one of the most fun All-Star games in America.Unlike so many other sports, where these meaningless games find an amassed group of talent with no worthy adversary, MLS is never starved for quality opponents.On a yearly basis, the timing of their All-Star game coincides with preseason tours of some of the finest squads in the world.This season, the soccer gods have seen fit to lure in Chelsea, still freshly minted from being crowned as slightly miraculous Champions League winners.And regardless of the manner of their victory, Chelsea have been busy all summer, adding and subtracting players.What remains for the Londoners is a stacked lineup.For MLS, it will be another amazing opportunity to showcase the league and its finest players.For the fans, it should be fun to watch. Here are some predictions for the upcoming clash.Begin Slideshow18Jul/120
10 Young MLS Stars Who Will End Up Playing Europe
There are some top young talents in the MLS who could feature in Europe at some point in their career.Young players like Jozy Altidore and Stuart Holden have been in Europe for a few years and could be followed by many more former MLS players.The players on this list are either 23 years of age or under and have some bright futures ahead of them.They are all highly regarded in the MLS and could soon be making their name in Europe thanks to the flashes of talent they have shown in their careers so far.Where exactly they will end up is anyone's guess,, but these players have the skill to play in Europe.Here are 10 young MLS stars who will end up playing Europe.Begin Slideshow18Jul/120
Houston Dynamo Continue Most Important Week of MLS Season
"3 Games. 7 Days. 9 Points."That's the Houston Dynamo's promotional poster for this week, and it succinctly sums up the importance of the week.On Sunday night the Dynamo started off the week in the best possible way, thrashing top side DC United, 4-0. On Wednesday, the Dynamo face off against Sporting KC, followed by a Saturday matchup against the Montreal Impact. This is the biggest week of the season for the boys in orange, with three home games and a chance to make a real push for the playoffs.The Dynamo are only eight points behind SKC and in fifth place in the conference (enough to make it to the play-in round of the MLS Cup playoffs). SKC leads the conference so a Dynamo win on Wednesday would go a long way towards shortening that gap. On Saturday they face the Impact, who are currently only six points behind the Dynamo in the East. A good result is vital to making sure Montreal doesn't get closer in the standings, especially since the Impact are expected to improve once their new signings, Marco Di Vaio and Alessandro Nesta, get settled.One thing is for sure: Defense will be the key for the Dynamo in the ...17Jul/120
Simon Dawkins Marks His Return from Injury in a Big Way Against Real Salt Lake
Meeting reporters in front of a makeshift backdrop at halfcourt of Santa Clara University's Leavey Center just minutes after watching his San Jose Earthquakes mount a thrilling 5-0 victory over Real Salt Lake--its closest competitors for the Western Conference lead--manager Frank Yallop made it perfectly clear that he expects his side to continue pressing for goals throughout the entirety of a match."I'm not going to tell our guys to hold back and not score as many goals as they can," Yallop told that small band of collected media. "We didn’t sit back, we didn't try to pad and see the game out, we went at it and we tried to play in the right manner. We had some great finishes tonight."Yallop had every reason to beam about the game he'd just seen. Real Salt Lake had come to the Bay Area just one point behind San Jose in the Western standings and brimming with confidence after waxing Portland Timbers 3-0 the previous weekend.Considering San Jose had fought tooth and nail for a 0-0 draw in their own road encounter against FC Dallas, the final game in a debilitating run ...16Jul/120
Vancouver Whitecaps Sign Scotland International Kenny Miller
MLS team Vancouver Whitecaps unveiled the signing of Kenny Miller on July 16. The arrival of the Scottish international striker completes a dramatic midseason roster shake-up after the club unexpectedly traded striker Sebastien Le Toux to New York Red Bulls and playmaker Davide Chiumiento to FC Zurich. Miller, 32, will be the Whitecaps' third designated player, joining striker Eric Hassli and fellow Scotsman, midfielder Barry Robson. There are hopes the ambitious signing will help soothe tensions with Hassli, who was reportedly unhappy with Chiumiento's departure, according to Vancouver newspaper The Province. Miller was signed from Premier League-bound Cardiff City but is probably best known from his days as a goal machine for Wolverhampton Wolves from 2001 to 2006 and Glasgow Rangers from 2008 to 2011. Whitecaps head coach Martin Rennie said in a club press release: “We’re delighted to bring an experienced striker like Kenny to our club. He has been a proven goalscorer with big clubs in Scotland and played in the England Premier League. His speed, energy, and work rate will be a valuable asset to our club, as we look to have a strong second half of the season in MLS.” Miller is expected to make his ...16Jul/120
Seattle Sounders’ Eddie Johnson and Osvaldo Alonso Named to MLS All-Star Team
On Sunday, Major League Soccer announced that Sounders midfielder Osvaldo Alonso and forward Eddie Johnson were selected to the 2012 MLS All-Star team. Alonso, 26, will be playing in the second all-star match of his four-year career. Johnson, 28, was selected to his third all-star match, his first with the Sounders and first since returning to the United States' most competitive league.Alonso, a native of Cuba, officially became an American citizen last month. 2012 has been an exciting year for him for this reason and because of his growth as a player. Always solid since the Sounders joined MLS in 2009, Alonso has been having the best season of his career so far. The holding midfielder has appeared in 15 matches this season and has held opponents to one goal per game, currently second in MLS.Alonso leads the Sounders with 702 completed passes and an 81.4 completed passing percentage.Eddie Johnson, an eight-year MLS veteran, returned to MLS after several seasons in Europe. He signed with MLS in February and was selected by the Montreal Impact by allocation process before being traded to the Sounders for Mike Fucito and Lamar Neagle. Johnson has played well with the Sounders. He currently leads the team ...16Jul/120
Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Vancouver Whitecaps: Analysis, Reaction and More
Bruce Arena’s Los Angeles Galaxy continue their 2012 Major League Soccer season on Wednesday, July 18 when they travel to BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, B.C. to take on Martin Rennie’s Vancouver Whitecaps. The Galaxy previously defeated the Caps 3-0 at the Home Depot Center on Jun. 23. Los Angeles currently sports an 8-10-2 record (26 points), are fifth in the MLS Western Conference and are fresh off a wild 5-3 victory over the Portland Timbers on the road. Vancouver has had a much better season overall, with a record of 8-6-6 (30 points). However, a victory for Los Angeles will put the Galaxy in a position to overtake them in the standings, and they have the star power to get the job done with Landon Donovan, David Beckham and Robbie Keane. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET and will be televised by KDOC and KWHY. Keep it right here on Bleacher Report for continuing coverage of the 2012 Major League Soccer season and all things world football.Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com16Jul/120
Seattle Sounders vs. Chelsea: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview
Chelsea FC will begin their United States tour by making their fifth appearance in Seattle to take on the Sounders on July 18.The match at CenturyLink Field will mark another chapter in the growing history between Chelsea and Seattle which began back in 1967 when the team defeated a group of local amateurs 5-0.The Blues last appearance against the Sounders was in 2009, when they received goals from Daniel Sturridge and Frank Lampard in a 2-0 win over the Sounders.Date: Wednesday, July 18, 2012Time: 9:30 P.M. ETLive Stream: ESPN3.comTV Info: ESPN 2Preview:In the midst of a whirlwind transfer period, Chelsea will begin its 2012 United States Tour against a familiar Sounders squad.Chelsea recently announced their roster for the United States tour and many top players like Lampard, Ashley Cole, and Peter Cech will be making the trip.Fresh off of its first Champions League title, Chelsea will look to start the tour off on the right foot before they face top teams like Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, and the MLS All-Star team.First they will have to get by a Seattle team that is currently third in the MLS Western Conference standings with 31 points and a 8-5-7 record.Players to watch for Seattle will be forwards ...16Jul/120
3 Ways to Make MLS Better
MLS has come a long way since its inception in 1996, as support for the league has grown. It has also attracted more and more world-class players, albeit they are generally past their peak. Having said that, the league still has a ways to go before becoming level with the great leagues of Europe.There are many ways to improve the league, such as keeping younger talent longer in the MLS and attracting players from Europe and South America before they are long past their primes.While many of the necessary changes will be difficult to implement, I will share three very easy ways that the MLS can improve its infrastructure and continue the momentum that has been created in the past 16 years.Begin Slideshow16Jul/120