5 Biggest Names Linked with Transfers to MLS in 2014

Major League Soccer has become a popular destination for international superstars to land to further their careers in the last six years. It all started with David Beckham in 2007, and since then, the likes of Thierry Henry, Tim Cahill and Federico Higuain have moved to the United States. Now, with the 2014 season rapidly approaching, there are some new names being linked with a few of the 19 MLS teams.  Here is a look at five of the biggest names rumored to be moving to America in the next year.Begin Slideshow

D.C. United Loading Up on Talent to Erase Memories of 2013 Season

After finishing dead last in the Eastern Conference with a lowly 16 points and just three wins in 34 games, D.C. United needed plenty of change. Luckily for soccer fans inside the Beltway, the club has done just that in the young offseason by bringing in a few experienced veterans and a future designated player.  It all started on Dec. 10 when United acquired Davy Arnaud from Montreal in exchange for an international roster spot. Two days later, Ben Olsen's side snatched two veterans in the first stage of the Re-Entry Draft. The 2013 U.S. Open Cup winners strengthened their defense by adding Sean Franklin and Bobby Boswell during the re-entry process. D.C. continued to make waves this week as they brought in a disgruntled Eddie Johnson from Seattle in a trade that sent allocation money back to the Pacific Northwest. Then came the second stage of the Re-Entry Draft where the Black and Red added Fabian Espindola and Nana Attakora with their two selections.  With six new players now in the squad, Olsen and his staff have plenty to work with during the final few months of the offseason. Franklin and Boswell will anchor a defense setup that was ravaged by 59 goals in 2013, a ...

MLS: Recapping Stage 1 of the Re-Entry Draft

Some unexpected fireworks were created on Thursday during Stage One of the Major League Soccer Re-Entry Draft.  The first stage of the re-entry process featured 57 eligible players with D.C. United containing the first pick. However, it was not D.C. that sent shock waves throughout the league with their pick, as that job was done by the Portland Timbers.  Just before the re-entry draft began at 3 p.m. ET, the Timbers traded defender Andrew Jean-Baptiste and the No. 17 pick in the re-entry draft to Chivas USA for the No. 2 pick and Jorge Villafana.  After the deal was announced, the Timbers got down to business and opted to choose former Seattle Sounders midfielder Steve Zakuani with their pick. The pick of Zakuani, who has not been the same player since breaking his leg in 2011, thickened the plot of one of the biggest rivalries in North America just a bit more. Zakuani's selection was later deemed a necessity by most as it was revealed that Rodney Wallace had undergone surgery for a torn ACL that was suffered in the playoffs against Real Salt Lake.  Zakuani will be able to fill the void left open by Wallace in midfield, and he will look to attain the success he had at ...

MLS Cup Final Complete Preview

The 2013 Major League Soccer season will come to an end on Saturday afternoon with an appetizing matchup between Real Salt Lake and Sporting Kansas City at the 2013 MLS Cup final.  The two small-market teams have shown plenty of resolve throughout the season and they feature two of the best managers in America - Jason Kreis and Peter Vermes.  Sporting will play host to the Claret and Cobalt at Sporting Park due to a better regular season points total.  The match, which will be televised on ESPN at 4 p.m. ET, has plenty of intriguing storylines and will display some of the best American talent out there. Continue reading for a complete preview of the 2013 MLS Cup final.    *All statistics obtained from MLSSoccer.com. Begin Slideshow

Should Major League Soccer Alter Their Transfer Window Mindset?

Ever since the Los Angeles Galaxy acquired David Beckham in 2007, the big name designated player transfer policy of Major League Soccer has seen quite a few big names enter the league.  Now, as the MLS offseason and January transfer window beckon, the name of the latest star to be linked with MLS has been released.  According to a report by Darren Lewis of the Daily Mirror, Toronto FC have agreed to a deal with Tottenham and England forward Jermain Defoe.  At 31, Defoe would still be able to produce for the Reds, who are a side that are in desperate need of a successful season north of the border in 2014.  Defoe has been relegated to the bench at Spurs since the summer arrival of Roberto Soldado from Valencia, and he is looking to break into Roy Hodgson's England squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.  There is no doubt that this would be a massive get by Toronto FC and the league itself, but is it the right transfer to highlight the offseason?  Some of the highest profile designated players in the league at the moment are in the latter stages of their careers, including Robbie Keane, Tim Cahill and Thierry Henry.  While all three of those ...

Real Salt Lake vs. Los Angeles Playoff Clash Is About More Than the USMNT Stars

When the Western Conference playoff matchup between No. 2 Real Salt Lake and the third-seeded Los Angeles Galaxy was announced, the initial thought of American fans was that they would see plenty of their brightest national team stars on display.  While it is true that Nick Rimando, Kyle Beckerman, Tony Beltran, Landon Donovan and Omar Gonzalez should all be playing in Sunday's first leg at the StubHub Center, there are some underrated players from other nations that could be the key contributors in the playoff matchup.  Perhaps the biggest cog in the Galaxy machine this season has been their Panamanian goalkeeper Jaime Penedo, who was the final piece to the team's puzzle after being added following the CONCACAF Gold Cup.  Penedo replaced former Tottenham Hotspur keeper Carlo Cudicini, who put together a miserable debut season in Major League Soccer before the Panama international took over.  Another massive part of the Galaxy's success is due to the play of Brazilian midfielders Marcelo Sarvas and Juninho, who as a duo have provided the two-time defending MLS Cup champions with stability and class in the middle of the pitch all season.  Lest we forget the stellar play of Irishman Robbie Keane, who is an international superstar in his own ...

Impact vs. Dynamo: Houston Looks to Make Home-Field Advantage Count

Having home-field advantage at this time of the Major League Soccer season can prove to be vital for the team playing in their own stadium.  One of the best known home-field advantages in North American soccer will be under the spotlight in Thursday night's Eastern Conference knockout round game between the host Houston Dynamo and Montreal Impact. At one point this season, the Dynamo had a 36-game unbeaten streak in all competitions dating back to June 18, 2011.  That streak was ended by Sporting Kansas City on May 12, and it handed a dose of confidence to other sides in the league that they could venture down to BBVA Compass Stadium and leave with a full three points.  That is exactly what happened on three other occasions, including the week after the Dynamo's streak was snapped, in the 2013 regular season.  Heading into their knockout round clash with Montreal, Dominic Kinnear's side have a stark advantage by playing at home, especially if you look at the season series between the two Eastern Conference foes.  In the three meetings between the Dynamo and the Impact in 2013, the home team has come out with a victory and a clean sheet.  With that statistical nugget in mind, Houston fans ...

Seattle Sounders vs. Colorado Rapids: Complete MLS Knockout Round Preview

The date was October 5.  The Seattle Sounders, sparked by the arrival of United States men's national team star Clint Dempsey, marched into Dick's Sporting Goods Park with a seven-game unbeaten streak. Sigi Schmid's club had all of the momentum in the world on its side, as the Sounders were surely going to contend for the Western Conference and Supporter's Shield titles in the final month of the Major League Soccer regular season. After October 5, the Sounders spiraled into a run of miserable form.  The reason for their five-game winless streak to end the season?  Well, that would be the Colorado Rapids.  The Rapids torched the Sounders back four that night in Commerce City, Colo. and revived their own playoff hopes in the process. The 5-1 victory by Oscar Pareja's club was started by a goal from Deshorn Brown just 14 seconds into the match, and it continued its trampling of Seattle with four more goals before the final whistle blew.  Now, just 25 days later, the two sides are paired up against each other in the Western Conference knockout round.  Seattle stumbled into the playoffs and, by some divine intervention, ended up earning the fourth position in the West, which in turn handed it the opportunity to host Colorado at ...

Final MLS Power Rankings

Name an emotion and it was felt during the final weekend of the Major League Soccer season. Disappointment was felt in Philadelphia and Chicago as those two teams missed out on the Eastern Conference playoffs.  Relief was felt in Seattle as the Sounders ended a dreadful final two months of the regular season with a draw against Los Angeles and earned a home playoff match on Wednesday against Colorado.  The mood was celebratory in San Jose as the Earthquakes honored the career of Ramiro Corrales, who played in the league's inaugural season, as he hangs up his boots. Last, but not least, an overwhelming sense of joy was felt by the fans of the New York Red Bulls, who finally won a trophy after 18 long years.  Find out where all of these teams and the rest in MLS landed in the final edition of the B/R MLS Power Rankings. Begin Slideshow

Week 34 MLS Power Rankings

With the Major League Soccer playoff race as intense as ever, every single match played over the weekend in North America meant something.  While the playoff picture was shaken up a bit by those results, the B/R MLS Power Rankings did not experience too much of a seismic shift.  Continue reading to find out who claimed the No. 1 spot this weekend. Begin Slideshow