An A to Z of MLS in 2015

The last year in Major League Soccer was one of the most successful periods in the league's history. The 2015 regular season was a massive success and bigger names continued to come over to play in North America.  The 2015 league campaign almost didn't start on time as the owners and players agreed upon on a collective bargaining agreement two days before the first match kicked off. Once the games began, we witnessed plenty of world-class play from stars like Sebastian Giovinco, David Villa and Kei Kamara. As the season progressed, drama began to build in anticipation of what turned out to be the most exciting postseason in league history.  Off the pitch, the introduction of Targeted Allocation Money was a big storyline as was the midseason transfers of Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and Andrea Pirlo.  We decided to wrap up the last year in MLS with a complete A to Z guide of the happenings on and off the field during the league's 20th season.Begin Slideshow

Grading the Top Moves of the MLS Offseason So Far

The Major League Soccer offseason may be just over two weeks old but has seen plenty of player movement since Portland hoisted the MLS Cup on December 6.  In the time since the offseason opened, teams have traded key members of their squads for draft picks, the league's first free agents signed and a big-name defender left the league.  Not all of the 20 clubs in the league have been active on the player market in December, but there have been a few who have constantly appeared in the headlines.  Since there have been plenty of notable moves since the start of the offseason, we decided to break down the key acquisitions and hand out grades to the teams involved.  Here's a look at our grades for the top MLS offseason moves to date. Begin Slideshow

Didier Drogba: Latest News, Rumors, Speculation on Star’s Future with Impact

MLS side Montreal Impact want Didier Drogba to play for them in 2016 and see out the final part of his contract, even though they are also trying to assist his comeback to Chelsea. Continue for updates. Chelsea Must Pay Compensation Tuesday, Dec. 29 Soccer analyst Alexi Lalas confirmed Chelsea will need to reach an agreement over compensation if they want Drogba to leave the MLS now: Impact in Contact with Chelsea Wednesday, Dec. 23 According to interim Blues manager Guus Hiddink, the Premier League team is attempting to bring Drogba back to Stamford Bridge, per Matt Law of the Daily Telegraph. Discussions are already taking place between Drogba's current employers and the club where he became a star, according to the Impact's official Twitter feed:     It's a situation the Impact maintain they are powerless to stop: Despite their needs, Montreal are also trying to be respectful of Drogba's obvious desire to return to the club where he won the UEFA Champions League: Speaking of being respectful, the MLS team has praised its fans' tolerance—probably both for Drogba's wishes as well as for the Impact's willingness to indulge them:     Law also stated that while the west London club wants to seal an early exit from Canada for Drogba, the Blues ...

Michael Bradley Named 2015 US Men’s National Team Player of the Year

United States men's national team midfielder Michael Bradley captured the U.S. Player of the Year Award on Friday. The Associated Press passed along voting results from the Futbol de Primera, which saw Bradley (176 points; 39 first-place votes) earn the nod by a narrow margin over forward Clint Dempsey (145 points, 33 first-place votes). Jozy Altidore finished third with 70 voting points. Bradley, 28, tallied three goals and six assists across 18 appearances for the American squad in 2015. He also moved into more of a leadership role for the side at the CONCACAF Gold Cup, where he served as the captain. While the United States did score a couple of notable victories during the year, including away triumphs against the Netherlands and Germany, the team didn't accomplish its main goals. It finished fourth in the Gold Cup and failed to secure a FIFA Confederations Cup bid with a loss to Mexico in the CONCACAF Cup. After the final match of 2015, a scoreless draw with Trinidad and Tobago last month in World Cup qualifying, Bradley admitted things didn't go as planned, per Noah Davis of American Soccer Now. "We play to win big games and on that end, we have to call a spade ...

5 Youngsters Who Will Make Their Mark in MLS in 2016

It's never too early to start thinking about a new season, especially with the quick turnaround between seasons in Major League Soccer.  The 2015 campaign saw young players like Cyle Larin, Matt Polster, Kellyn Acosta and Matt Miazga burst onto the scene as potential rocks for their respective franchises for years to come.  There are plenty of stars like the quartet mentioned above that are set to break out in 2016. We have selected five players currently 23 and under that are expected to leave a mark on the league as a whole over the next 12 months.  We approached this list with one caveat, current college underclassmen Jordan Morris and Joshua Yaro were not considered because their respective futures are still hanging in the balance.  With that being said, we decided to look at five players currently on MLS rosters who should be set for a stellar season when the calendar flips to 2016.Begin Slideshow

MLS: How Can the League Improve Its TV Ratings?

The 2015 MLS Cup final drew poor television ratings in both the United States and Canada. It's not surprising given the size of the markets involved but it's still a major issue for the league. However, Major League Soccer can attract more viewers next season and beyond. It just has to go about it in a more creative and effective manner. When MLS first began in 1996, a few marquee players were signed, including Mexico international Jorge Campos and legendary Colombian midfielder Carlos Valderrama. The impact of Campos joining MLS was so massive that he asked for a Ferrari in order to return, per Sports Illustrated. MLS has tried to appeal to the Latino demographic recently. Giovani dos Santos was signed by the Galaxy, and his international teammate Carlos Vela is linked with a move to the USA, according to the official league website. It's no coincidence that MLS' best month ratings-wise coincided with Dos Santos' arrival in LA. Orlando City SC star Kaka is another player who has boosted TV viewership internationally. MLS announced a four-year deal with Brazilian broadcaster Globosat in March. Gary Stevenson, MLS Business Ventures president and managing director, said as much to the official league website: This new agreement with Globosat is further illustration of ...

Ranking the Top 50 Players in MLS in 2015

Major League Soccer's 20th season was its best to date thanks to the quality of the star players spread across the 20 clubs.  Stars like Sebastian Giovinco, David Villa, Kaka, Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and more entered the league to much fanfare, but there were also plenty of American products who delivered for their respective clubs.  Our list of the top 50 players from the 2015 season features stars from 19 of the 20 sides in the league. The Colorado Rapids were the lone team not to have anyone make the list. The New York Red Bulls led all teams with seven players, while FC Dallas, Vancouver and Portland all put four names in rankings. The balance of power between the conferences was level as well with 26 representing the Eastern Conference and 24 for the Western Conference.  We selected the 50 players by their numbers in key statistical categories, influence on the pitch and form throughout the season. Certain players were penalized for long dips in form during the regular season. For those eligible for the postseason, playoff performances were considered, but they weren't a major factor.  Continue reading on to see who were the best 50 players in MLS in 2015. Begin Slideshow

David Beckham Urged to Sign Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Launch Miami MLS Franchise

Ex-Major League Soccer manager Ray Hudson has told David Beckham to make a "monster first signing" like Zlatan Ibrahimovic as he attempts to realise his dream of creating a Miami-based franchise. Commentator for beIN Sports, Hudson managed the Miami Fusion for a year prior to their 2001 dissolution and has advised Beckham to be bold in his recruitment for the massive task ahead, per the Sun's Jon Boon: A player like Ibrahimovic would be a monster first signing. Those types of players are going to be available to the Beckham lure. They are going to be coming to him. They are going to be attracted to his flame. Forget about Real Madrid, PSG, Milan. He had to show up and put his boots on and play the game — and just be Beckham. This is going to be a different environment entirely. It is monumental. This is going to be a real test and it is very easy for us all to imagine, well, it’s Beckham and his stadium, it’s the MLS — let it rock and roll! Ibrahimovic's contract at Paris Saint-Germain is set to expire next summer, leading to speculation over whether he'll extend his stay at Parc des Princes or move on to pastures ...

2015 MLS End-of-Season Awards

As the 2015 MLS campaign comes to a close, it's time to hand out the end-of-season awards. There are 15 different categories from Best Player to Biggest Disappointment. Some awards had several candidates, so each one is accompanied by an honorable mention. Here are the MLS end-of-season awards for the 2015 campaign.Begin Slideshow

Portland Timbers Get Everything Right at Perfect Time to Win MLS Cup

Sunday marked the culmination of a nine-month quest to become champion of Major League Soccer.  During that period, we saw clubs attempt to claim the throne as the favorite to win MLS Cup, but many of them faded before the meaningful matches began.  When the postseason started, the clubs dubbed as the ones to beat failed to live up to the title. When the final whistle blew on MLS Cup at Mapfre Stadium on Sunday, the team that progressively picked up momentum near the end of the regular season and made a postseason drive in which it defeated three of the four best teams in the league came out on top.  The Portland Timbers didn't start the season strong like the New York Red Bulls or Vancouver Whitecaps. Nor did they peak at midseason like the LA Galaxy. They didn't even strike up a serious discussion about their MLS Cup credentials like rival Seattle, the Red Bulls or MLS Cup runner-up Columbus did at the conclusion of the regular season.  But one thing the Timbers excelled at over the nine-month journey to MLS Cup was adjusting and correcting their wrongs.  It took some time for the back four of Alvas Powell, Nat Borchers, Liam Ridgewell ...