5 of MLS’ All Time Greats

As MLS approaches two decades of play, it is time to look back and reflect on the players that have graced the league. From aging stars to young talent, MLS has provided a platform for many to earn respect on the pitch. While plenty of fading stars have played out there final years in the states, this list is designed to capture the five best players all time, judged by their performances when they were still in the league. From goals and assists to minutes played, there are plenty of statistics available to compare these individuals, but ultimately there is an element of subjectivity to the rankings. So here they are, five of MLS' all-time greats.Begin Slideshow

Charlie Davies: Can the Former USMNT Forward Revive His Career in MLS Again?

Four years is considered a large timespan in the world of soccer, but for fans of the United States men's national team, the star of 2009 will always hold a place in their memories. In 2009, a bright young prospect by the name of Charlie Davies broke onto the national team stage and gave American fans hope that they had finally found a strong young striker to lead them into the next generation of the national team. Davies was the man to fill that void before the likes of Jozy Altidore and Juan Agudelo, amongst others, were handed the title of next great American goalscorer. It all started when Davies burst onto the scene at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, which was a landmark tournament for the United States as it advanced to the final against Brazil, where it suffered a heartbreaking defeat. After the dust had settled in South Africa in 2009, Davies was seen to be a lock to return to the African continent the next summer to help anchor the American attack at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Playing in his first career World Cup in the summer of 2010 seemed to be a sure thing for Davies until the horrific car ...

Seattle Sounders Stats and How Clint Dempsey Could Fit in Tactically

The dust has settled. United States men’s national team captain Clint Dempsey is officially a member of the Seattle Sounders of Major League Soccer. So…now what? It will be critical for head coach Sigi Schmid to figure out where exactly his recently inked Texan fits in tactically for one of MLS’ most popular clubs. With an examination of Seattle’s statistics from MLS 2013 as well as a look at Deuce’s numbers from his last season at Tottenham, some clues into how Schmid might deploy his new asset emerge. One thing is for sure in regards to Dempsey’s role for the Sounders—he will be used to create chances and score goals from an offensive position. He did as much during last season’s English Premier League campaign. The newly minted Sounder was third on Spurs in Premier League goals with seven during the 2012-13 season and tied for second on the team with four assists. He also dished out 33 key passes. A player as versatile as Dempsey can be deployed just about anywhere in the midfield or as a forward. Such versatility means Schmid has some thinking to do. While he mulls where to play Dempsey, he may want to consider that Seattle definitely needs help creating chances. The ...

Philadelphia and Montreal Are on Upset Alert in MLS This Weekend

With CONCACAF Champions League now underway, some teams will have even more congested schedules than normal. Busy schedules sometimes make it easier to trip a team up, simply because they're tired. This week's teams on Upset Alert are connected to one semifinal in the U.S. Open Cup through their opponents. Let's take a look at the two teams I think need to be watching their backs this week.   Upset Alert No. 1: Philadelphia Union vs. DC United For most of the season, DC United has been a pretty bad team. There has been one exception to that "rule," and that has been the US Open Cup. On Wednesday, they upended the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park 2-0 to advance to the final. It's one of the few times, if any, they've managed to win two consecutive games in all competitions, having beaten Montreal 3-1 at the weekend. Philadelphia, on the other hand, finds themselves in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, only four points behind first-place New York. They did win the only meeting so far this season between the two clubs, a 3-2 win in Philadelphia on April 21. I think DC United can pull off the upset because they're hungry to build on their ...

MLS Week 24: Complete Schedule and 5 Things to Watch for This Weekend

Don't fixate on Clint Dempsey's anticipated return in MLS Week 24. The search for Jack McInerney's form is equally worth your watchful eye this weekend. A total of eight MLS clubs were in action on Wednesday. The Montreal Impact and Sporting Kansas City captured much-needed CONCACAF Champions League victories. Real Salt Lake and D.C. United followed suit by advancing to the U.S. Open Cup final. Nine MLS matches will follow this weekend. But with so much action on tap, what warrants your attention? Read on to find out.   Note: Unless otherwise mentioned, credit all statistics to the official MLS Press Box Stats and Standings.Begin Slideshow

Projecting an LA Galaxy Season in the Premier League

Major League Soccer pulled off a minor coup last week, signing Clint Dempsey to the league from Tottenham Hotspur in the prime of Dempsey’s career. Usually reserved for up-and-coming youngsters and aging foreign stars looking to grab one final big payday, the move was yet another sign that MLS’ appeal and quality of play is continuing to improve. With the English Premier League considered by many to be the top league in the world and the 2013-14 EPL season about to kickoff, one wonders, how would a top MLS side do competing in England’s top league?Begin Slideshow

Clint Dempsey: Right Move to Return to MLS?

On Saturday, Clint Dempsey made a historic move to the Seattle Sounders. The under-the-radar exchange between Seattle and Tottenham was certainly one of the biggest in the transfer window thus far. As one of the biggest surprises of the summer, this deal was put together rather quickly. Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated wrote a brilliant recap of the events leading up to Dempsey’s eventual signing; he interviewed Seattle’s general manager Adrian Hanauer on how they kept the deal quiet: "We have really good contacts at the airport, so we were able to sneak him off the flight and down onto the tarmac into a van," says Hanauer with a laugh. "Then he went back around to a baggage claim area that wasn't for his flight. He jumped in my car. His associate James [Skelland] went and got the bags. We picked him up and then away we went." I recommend reading the entire story because the entire process, including how MLS was involved, was extremely fascinating. Dempsey’s return to America is great for a number of reasons. The most important thing for the confidence of an athlete is getting consistent playing time. In Seattle, Dempsey will get that and more.  In Dempsey’s time at Tottenham, he never really got the ...

Images of New York City FC Pier 40 Stadium Are Too Good to Be True

Fans of soccer stadiums or just beautiful locales will absolutely love leaked renderings of the Pier 40 stadium supposedly made for the future New York City FC.  Unfortunately, it seems the brilliant images of a possible stadium will have to remain fictional for the time being.  Jake O'Donnell of Sports Grid spotted the following leaked renderings originally posted over at Reddit. Take just a moment and imagine the pure magnificence that would come with watching a fixture on Pier 40.  Back in May, Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber announced New York would be getting a new team—a franchise born from the partnership between powerhouses Manchester City and MLB's New York Yankees.  At the time, Garber stated the club would play in a temporary locale for its inaugural 2015 season, leaving fans to guess where a permanent home might present itself.  It seems fairly obvious that any stadium sitting along the pier would be amazing for sports fans living in Manhattan.  In fact, you might offer that such fanciful arenas would rest comfortably in the land of "too good to be true." If you believe some of the things being offered in the Reddit comments section, it is.  The following quotes come from Reddit user, RemyDWD, who writes, "I'm a soccer writer in NYC. Been ...

Week 23 MLS Power Rankings

In a week dominated by ownership changes, big-time transfers and a star-studded All-Star Game, fans of Major League Soccer already had plenty of things to talk about. If you add in the play on the pitch this weekend, fans of the league will not run short on watercooler discussion topics this week. During the action on the pitch, last week's top two clubs failed to record a victory. With Sporting Kansas City and Real Salt Lake leaving the door wide open, another club has soared to the top of the B/R MLS Power Rankings. Read on to see who was crowned the top club in MLS this week by our experts.Begin Slideshow

Best and Worst from MLS Week 23: Clint Dempsey, Tornado Warnings and More

No one could stop the action in Major League Soccer Week 23, not even Mother Nature. The Portland Timbers failed to capture a Cascadia Cup victory on Saturday, and their 1-1 draw with the Vancouver Whitecaps was the club's 11th of the season. The Chicago Fire had no problems in that department. A 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union extended Chicago's unbeaten streak to three matches. A game-winner from Mike Magee gave the American sole possession of the MLS Golden Boot lead with 14 goals. But some tough competition kept all four clubs from making the list of best and worst from MLS Week 23. Read on to find out why.Begin Slideshow