8 Things We Learned from MLS Week 2

The long-awaited debuts of Jermain Defoe and Michael Bradley in Toronto FC red came and went this weekend with plenty of fireworks.  The star-studded duo helped the Reds power past the Sounders in Seattle in the marquee game of Week 2. In the other seven matches, we learned that Earthquakes should never be counted out and a tremendous back four is coming together in orange.  Continue reading for the eight biggest lessons from the second week of play in MLS. Begin Slideshow

MLS Team of the Week: Defoe Shines in League Debut

The second week of play in Major League Soccer saw plenty of big names perform at a high level. MLS debutant Jermain Defoe had one of the best days on the pitch this weekend with two goals at CenturyLink Field in Seattle.  Outside of Michael Bradley and Defoe's star-studded parade in Seattle, there were other strong showings from a few players that deserved spots in last week's Team of the Week. Continue reading to see who found a spot in our 4-1-3-2 formation for the Week 2 Team of the Week.Begin Slideshow

What Will Be Considered a Success for MLS Teams in CONCACAF Champions League?

After play in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals, three clubs from Major Soccer League are still in contention for a spot in the semifinals.  The San Jose Earthquakes received a last-gasp goal from Alan Gordon at home to head into the second leg with Toluca tied at 1-1.  Sporting Kansas City and the LA Galaxy both won 1-0 at home over Mexican opposition, but they both have plenty of work left to do south of the border next week.  It is likely that at least one of these three clubs will advance into the semifinal round, but will reaching the semis be deemed a success for the league that is still looking for a breakthrough on the continental stage? In the five years of the CONCACAF Champions League format, only one MLS side has reached the final. Real Salt Lake progressed that far in 2011 and fell a goal short against Monterrey, which has won the last three Champions League titles.  Last season, LA and the Seattle Sounders reached the semifinal round before being knocked out by Monterrey and Santos Laguna, respectively.  Everyone around the league knows that the quality in MLS has gone up in recent years, but that sentiment has ...

Why MLS Fans Should Be Excited for the 2014 Season

I’ll admit it—I’ve bashed Major League Soccer. And I’ve done it publicly. I’ve been part of the chorus of fans who bemoaned the lack of possession, the lack of stylish play, the lack of technical ability and the low-scoring games. You know who you are. I used to be one of you—but not anymore. Like many soccer fans in the United States, I’m an MLS orphan. Growing up in Michigan, I had no hometown team—the closest semblance being trips to Chicago to see the Fire. And even though some of my fondest MLS memories are from those Fire matches—watching Carlos Bocanegra, DaMarcus Beasley and Hristo Stoichkov at Soldier Field in downtown Chicago—I consider myself to be an MLS neutral. I have no particular allegiance to any team. As such, it took me a long time to get into the league and as a rabid United States men’s national team fan, I took far more interest in watching European matches than those of MLS. But over the past three seasons, that has slowly begun to change. I was pulled into the 2011 playoffs by a familiar draw—watching the L.A. Galaxy and their stars Landon Donovan and David Beckham—but the narratives of the next two seasons are what really ...

Should Brek Shea Return to MLS to Revive His Career?

Brek Shea has been one of the most polarizing figures in American soccer over the last few years.  Shea, who starred for FC Dallas in 2011 when he scored 11 goals, has had a rough go of it recently, but he has shown on occasion that he is still the player he once was when he first jumped on to the national team radar.  Now 24 and back at Stoke City as a result of a loan spell cut short at Barnsley because of an incident with the club's fans a week ago, Shea needs somewhere to play consistently. Shea was getting time on the pitch for the Tykes, but he wasted that opportunity in a matter of seconds.  There is no doubt that the left winger has a chance to become one of the faces of the United States men's national team in time for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, but he also has the same odds of fading away and becoming a player that isn't mentioned in the national team conversation. Shea's lasting impact with the Yanks came at the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup as he scored the game-winning goal off of the bench in the final against Panama.  When he has appeared for ...

MLS Player Power Rankings: Bruin, Miller Impress Up Front in Week 1

Now that the first weekend of play in Major League Soccer is over with, it is time to hand out some awards to some of the top players.  We do that here by ranking the 20 best players from Week 1.  Every week we will be ranking the top players in the league, and once the second week begins, this will become a cumulative rating.  Continue reading to see who topped the first MLS player power rankings. Begin Slideshow

Best and Worst from MLS Week 1: Robbie Keane, Chivas USA and More

The worst action in MLS Week 1 featured Robbie Keane, the New York Red Bulls and D.C. United, but what about the best? Will Bruin is a solid contender after scoring a brace in the first 13 minutes of the Houston Dynamo's 2014 campaign. Kenny Miller followed suit for the Vancouver Whitecaps in the club's 4-1 undressing of the New York Red Bulls. Even his teammate Sebastian Fernandez was worthy of mention after opening his MLS account with vehement force. But all three won't be featured on the list of best and worst from MLS Week 1. Read on to find out why.   Note: Unless otherwise mentioned, credit all statistics to Squawka. All data collected is licensed from Opta Sports.Begin Slideshow

10 Overseas Players Who Would Be Massive Hits in MLS

Since signing David Beckham seven years ago, Major League Soccer has continued to look overseas each year in search of talent that can help the league grow.  After signing Beckham, the tradition of big-name signings continued with foreigners like Thierry Henry, Robbie Keane, Cuauhtemoc Blanco and, most recently, Jermain Defoe. But, it has also recently extended to American internationals playing abroad like Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley. Here are 10 more overseas players who would be hits in MLS.Begin Slideshow

10 Things We Learned from MLS Week 1

Major League Soccer finally returned to the pitch this weekend with eight games that brought us a bit of a surprise with 26 goals and three games seeing five scores.  While seeing goals fly in from all over the place was a nice spectacle, the biggest talking points came from the close matches played in Seattle, LA and Portland. Here is a look at 10 things we learned from the opening weekend of play in MLS. Begin Slideshow

MLS Team of the Week: Rimando, Bruin and Edu Star in Week 1

The first week of the Major League Soccer season saw plenty of players step up and surprise us with their talents.  Some of the players in the best 11 from Week 1 came out of nowhere to star for their respective clubs, while a few players turned in games that were extensions of their 2013 form.  We opted for a 3-4-1-2 formation this week because of the stellar center-back play across the league all weekend.  While there were a few standout showings from full-backs, none of them compared to the strong defensive play of the three center-backs in our lineup. Continue reading to find out who was named to the inaugural B/R MLS team of the week. Begin Slideshow