How LA Galaxy Can Transition from Landon Donovan to Steven Gerrard in MLS

It's hard to imagine a club like the LA Galaxy as a team in transition, but that is the exact label being placed on the five-time MLS Cup champion at the start of the 2015 Major League Soccer season. The Galaxy are currently in a holding pattern in advance of Steven Gerrard's arrival from Liverpool this summer. Gerrard is set to replace Landon Donovan, who retired after the 2014 season, as the club's third designated player.  While Gerrard does not play the same position as Donovan did, he will fill the playmaking void left open by the United States legend's departure.  In the club's 2-0 win over the Chicago Fire on Friday night, we saw a glimpse of the tactical setup manager Bruce Arena will use before Gerrard enters the fray.  The decision that caught the most attention was the one to start Kenney Walker next to Juninho in the middle of the park. The pair were flanked by the duo of Stefan Ishizaki and Jose Villarreal.  The spot next to Juninho on the pitch will be under a massive microscope before Gerrard's arrival because the Galaxy were forced to trade Marcelo Sarvas to Colorado to make room for their new No. 8.  Walker did a ...

MLS Player Power Rankings: Dempsey, Altidore Fight for Top Spot After Week 1

The first week of action in Major League Soccer may not be the best we see all season, but we did see glimpses of brilliance from some of the league's top players.  Fourteen different players found the back of the net over the three-day stretch of games, including Robbie Keane, Kaka, Jozy Altidore, Obafemi Martins and Clint Dempsey.  Based off their contributions to their respective clubs, all five of those players are high on the list of the top 20 players in MLS.  This list will be similar to a club power ranking, as the hottest players in MLS will be closer to the top spot. As the weeks move on, cumulative performance will be added into our selection criteria. But for now, we are just judging these players off their Week 1 showings.  Continue reading on to see who topped the first MLS Player Power Rankings of the 2015 MLS season.Begin Slideshow

MLS: 10 Things We Learned on Opening Weekend

The 2015 MLS season began on Friday, with the defending champion LA Galaxy claiming a 2-0 win against a hapless Chicago Fire team at the StubHub Center. Saturday was highlighted by Jozy Altidore's brace against the Vancouver Whitecaps in his competitive debut for Toronto FC. Four goals were scored in that game. The other five matches combined for just three goals. Sunday provided some dramatic moments. Ten-man Orlando City SC salvaged a draw against New York City FC in front of over 62,000 fans at the Citrus Bowl in the teams' inaugural MLS match. Sporting Kansas City and the New York Red Bulls tied, while the Seattle Sounders confidently defeated the New England Revolution in the final two games of opening weekend. Here are 10 things we learned in the first round of regular-season matches.  Begin Slideshow

2 Orlando City Fans Jump out of Stands After Kaka’s Late Equaliser

It is fair to say Orlando is pretty pumped for the MLS. A sold-out crowd of 62,510 watched Orlando City draw their first-ever MLS match 1-1 with New York City FC on Sunday. However, there were just 62,508 in the actual stands soon after Kaka's late equaliser, as two fans decided to jump out of the stands after the goal. Or as our friends at 101 Great Goals put it: "They turned into lemmings."[Twitter, Vine, 101 Great Goals] Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

Kaka, the Citrus Bowl and the Feel-Good Factor Around Orlando City’s MLS Start

The opening weekend of Major League Soccer's 2015 season was exciting, encouraging and in many ways the spectacle plenty hoped it would be, with talking points, goals and drama aplenty throughout the 10 fixtures. Orlando City vs. New York City typified that to some extent, with the two new MLS franchises playing out a late 1-1 draw at the Citrus Bowl in front of more than 60,000 raucous fans. David Villa and Kaka were the star names on display, but there was plenty more to the match than just those two individuals. Despite not taking the win, the manner of the draw and Orlando's all-around approach will give fans reasons for optimism and excitement for the season ahead.   Playmaker Kaka, No. 10, captain of the club. The Brazilian legend was utilized correctly in his renowned role by Orlando, behind a center-forward and in spaces where he could collect possession and look to move toward goal. There was no "fitting in" of Kaka; he has been made the focal point for the team's progression and buildup play and the man to whom it will look to make the magic happen. Even early on in the game when things didn't quite work out for Orlando, it was Kaka's ...

Seattle Sounders Channel Their Inner Barcelona for Quality Team Goal

Seattle Sounders got their MLS season off to a great start with a 3-0 win over the New England Revolution on Sunday night.The undoubted highlight of the match was their third goal. In scoring it, they looked more like Barcelona than an MLS side. The Sounders produced some delightful tika-taka football before U.S. men's national team soccer star Clint Dempsey slotted home for his second of the game. [Seattle Sounders FC]Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

MLS Team of the Week: Kaka, Dempsey & Altidore Shine in Week 1

The first week of action in Major League Soccer saw some players display a bit of rust as other stars pick up where they left off in 2014. A few of the new additions to the league also starred for their respective clubs, as Jozy Altidore and Kaka shone bright in key roles in the matches played by Toronto FC and Orlando City. The best performance from a specific position in Week 1 came between the pipes, as four goalkeepers made legitimate claims to be named in the first best 11 of the season. Our inaugural MLS Team of the Week of the 2015 season is shaped in a traditional 4-4-2 to accommodate a few strong showings at full-back, which is seen as the weakest position in the league. Continue reading for a look at which 11 players feature in the first MLS Team of the Week of the new season.Begin Slideshow

Kaka Hits Late Free-Kick Equaliser in MLS Debut with Orlando City SC

It wasn't quite a Hollywood ending for Kaka's Major League Soccer debut, but the Brazilian legend showed he's still got the flair for the dramatics on the pitch. Kaka hit a late injury-time equaliser against the David Villa-led NYCFC from a set piece. OK, it wasn't perfect—it smashed off of the NYCFC wall, landing his opposing goalkeeper on his backside going the wrong direction, but the much-ballyhooed Orlando City SC signing made a poignant mark in his first MLS match and sent the sold-out crowd into a frenzy. [Vine]Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

David Villa and Kaka Lead Influx as Foreign Stars Look Set to Star in MLS Again

Major League Soccer returns for a new season on Friday with high hopes that it will be the most successful yet. A couple of new teams and a whole host of new players contribute to the hopes that this will be the most exciting and entertaining season yet, with plenty of franchises looking well poised to succeed the Los Angeles Galaxy as MLS Cup holders come the end of the campaign. The recently agreed collective bargaining agreement might have been, at its core, about the league retaining key elements of its insular structure, elements that help keep it separate from the completely free-market situation that operates around the world. Nevertheless, a number of highly paid foreign stars look set to be driving forces in events this season. Designated players in Los Angeles and New York, along with plenty of other spots around the United States and Canada, come into the new season with huge numbers on their paychecks and consequently huge expectations on their shoulders. Here are some of the new names and returning faces to watch out for this season.  The New Names Shaun Maloney (Chicago Fire) Shaun Maloney may not have as wide a profile as some of the other players debuting in MLS this season, ...

MLS Schedule 2015: Week 1 Match Listing and Preview of Top Games

The 2015 Major League Soccer season gets underway on Friday night when the reigning MLS Cup champion Los Angeles Galaxy take on the Chicago Fire. That matchup kicks off a slate of weekend action that also includes the debuts of New York City FC and Orlando City SC. There were some tense moments this week, as the threat of a player strike loomed over the league until Wednesday. That's when MLS announced an agreement with the players union on a collective bargaining agreement that will be in place through the 2019 campaign. With the dark cloud lifted, it's time to look forward to the opening week of play. So let's check out the complete schedule for Week 1 followed by a preview for three of the most anticipated matchups as MLS enters its 20th season.   Week 1 Fixtures   Top Games to Watch LA Galaxy vs. Chicago Fire The Galaxy head into their title defense with most of the key players who helped them win last year's title. They edged the New England Revolution in the final thanks to a Robbie Keane tally in extra time. He'll take on an even larger leadership role this season with Landon Donovan retired. Finding a way to replace Donovan in the midfield ...