Why the Signing of Erick Torres Is a Game-Changer for Houston and MLS

When the Houston Dynamo unveiled Erick "Cubo" Torres as their newest signing Tuesday night, team president Chris Canetti had the perfect words to describe the move.  "This is a monumental signing," Canetti said in the team's press release announcing the deal for the electric 21-year-old Mexican forward.  Torres will join up with the Dynamo after a six-month loan spell at his former club, Chivas de Guadalajara.  When he enters the fray in Houston, Torres will become the marquee name in the lineup, who Houston fans have been waiting to see for a long time.  The Dynamo have always had productive players in attack like Brian Ching, Will Bruin and Brad Davis. But the popularity of those three players combined will not match the recognition Torres receives when he begins his time in the Lone Star State.  For years, Houston has been searching for a player to attract the massive Hispanic audience in the city. By obtaining Torres from Chivas, the Dynamo have done just that.  Not only did the Dynamo need Torres to create a more passionate fanbase than they already had, the acquisition will help new manager Owen Coyle adjust to the league faster. Coyle, who comes to MLS after managerial stints at Burnley, Bolton Wanderers and Wigan ...

7 Players Who Deserve to Be Designated Players in MLS

Major League Soccer is entering a new era in 2015, as Thierry Henry and Landon Donovan will no longer be around to display their talents on the pitch.  Filling the void of the two stars will not be an easy task, but the designated-player rule does make things a bit easier for clubs to go out and find new talent. Although acquiring outside talent is popular, some clubs opt to reward their current players with designated-player contracts. The latest example of this is New York locking up Bradley Wright-Phillips for the long term after the 2014 season ended.  With Wright-Phillips' signing in mind, here is a look at seven other current MLS players who are deserving of a designated-player contract. Begin Slideshow

5 Major Issues Concerning MLS CBA Negotiations

Before the 2015 Major League Soccer season can begin, a new collective bargaining agreement must be negotiated by the league and the players' union.  Last time the two sides went to the negotiating table, the discussions went down to the final week of the offseason before the 2010 campaign.  This time around, negotiations are expected to be intense in order to improve the rapidly expanding league, which will see two expansion sides enter the fray in March.  Here is a look at five of the key issues surrounding the MLS CBA negotiations. Begin Slideshow

Ranking the Top 50 Players in MLS in 2014

Thanks to the performances of many world-class stars, Major League Soccer experienced one of its best seasons to date in 2014. Not only did the likes of Robbie Keane, Landon Donovan and Thierry Henry shine bright this season, but plenty of young players broke into the spotlight for their respective showings on the pitch.  With the season now over, it is time to take one final look back and rank the top 50 players from the 2014 campaign.  Players were ranked based on statistics from regular-season play, impact on their respective side, intangibles and postseason performances if applicable.  Here is a look at our comprehensive ranking of the 50 best players to step foot on an MLS pitch this season.Begin Slideshow

Progress Report on Orlando City Squad Following MLS Expansion Draft

Following a few years of play in the lower divisions of American soccer, Orlando City will join Major League Soccer in 2015.  The Lions may not have the fancy association to a European club like fellow expansion side New York City FC, but they have potential to be a real contender in the Eastern Conference in 2015.  Managed by Adrian Heath, Orlando has a marquee designated player in Kaka, and it has built up a solid spine in the last week.  Before we analyze the roster of the club, here is a look at who will be playing for the Florida-based side in 2015:    Goalkeeper The Lions aren't messing around went it comes to the goalkeeper position, as they have brought in two league veterans to man the space in between the pipes.  Tally Hall is the younger of the two 'keepers, and he should be around for the long term. However, the 29-year-old former Dynamo player is in the process of rehabbing a torn ACL. With that in mind, Orlando City picked Donovan Ricketts with the No. 1 pick in the expansion draft. The 37-year-old Jamaican has played for three clubs in MLS over the last six seasons with Portland being his latest home.  Ricketts will be ...

Ranking the 5 Best Defenders from the 2014 MLS Season

The 2014 Major League Soccer season was all about the impressive attackers who took to the pitches across North America. But there were a few defenders who stood out in a year dominated by goalscorers.  While it may have been a down year for both full-back positions, plenty of center-backs enjoyed successful seasons for their respective clubs. All five of the players we rank on this list are center-backs who proved to be game changers for playoff-bound clubs.  Here's a look at the five best defenders from the 2014 MLS season. Begin Slideshow

Progress Report on NYCFC Squad Following MLS Expansion Draft

With less than four months remaining until the start of the 2015 Major League Soccer season, expansion side New York City FC is beginning to mold its roster.  Before Wednesday's expansion draft, the sister club of Manchester City only had a few players on its roster, including Frank Lampard and David Villa. Now that Jason Kreis' side has had the chance to bolster its roster through the expansion draft, it is time to take a closer look at how the roster is being formed. Here is a list of the current players who have been acquired by New York City FC over the last year:    Goalkeeper Kreis opted for experience in net over the summer, when he signed Josh Saunders on a free transfer. Before joining up with NYCFC, Saunders spent time with the LA Galaxy and Real Salt Lake.  Saunders has never been a consistent No. 1 'keeper in the league, but he does bring a good amount of experience with him to the pitch.  It appears as though Saunders will have a chance to mentor a young player at the position, as the club acquired Ryan Meara on loan from the New York Red Bulls, per Soccer by Ives' Ives Galarcep:  Meara is a prospect with ...

Ranking the 5 Best Midfielders from the 2014 MLS Season

After taking a look at the top forwards from the 2014 Major League Soccer season on Tuesday, we shift our attention to the league's best midfielders.  Most of the star midfielders this season turned in impressive attacking displays week after week, but there were a few players who turned games around with their defensive qualities as well.  Two of the midfielders ranked in the top five left the league on a high note after announcing they would not return to their respective clubs in 2015.  Here's a look at the five best midfielders from the 2014 MLS season. Begin Slideshow

Ranking the 10 Best Forwards from the 2014 MLS Season

One of the reasons why the 2014 Major League Soccer season delivered a ton of excitement was the play of the forwards across the league. Due to the strength in numbers at the position, the Golden Boot race was one of the fiercest in league history. In the end, it took a record-tying season from Bradley Wright-Phillips to win the scoring title.  Some of the top scorers this season were also some of the league's biggest names, as Robbie Keane, Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins finished as three of the top seven scorers.  Here's a look at the 10 best forwards from the 2014 MLS season. Begin Slideshow

MLS Team of the 2014 Season

Now that the 2014 Major League Soccer season has concluded, it is time to give out our end-of-the-season awards to the league's best players.  Over the next two weeks, we will take a look who the best players were at each position, and we will release our list of the top 50 players in the league. Before we get to the positional breakdown, we will reveal our best XI from the 2014 season.  Continue reading on to see which 11 players were placed into our MLS Team of the 2014 season. Begin Slideshow