Soccer By Ives

MLS All-Star Game: A look back

Ives Galarcep — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:53:55 -0400

The 2008 MLS All-Star Game will be remembered not for the victory against West Ham, but for a collection of talent better than any we've seen in an all-star game before it.

When Landon Donovan and Juan Pablo Angel are coming off the bench in a game, you know there is some serious firepower on the roster. when Dwayne DeRosario can enter the game late and still work his magic despite being less than 24 hours from having played 90 minutes in Washington D.C., you know the game is special.

I don't put too much stock into the whole "Beating West Ham legitimizes MLS" thinking. A result in a friendly doesn't do that. Strong teams, good games, more star players and full stadiums do that. What last night's game did was give the league a chance to show off a bit, and the game certainly accomplished that.

Here are some other observations from MLS All-Star week:

Cuauhtemoc Blanco stole the show. Yes, he's easy to hate when he's punching opponents, flopping and berating referees and opponents, but when Blanco does what he does best he truly is a special player. I get the sense that he was out to prove something on Thursday. Let's face it, David Beckham gets most of the attention from non-Latino media and I'm sure Blanco can't help but think to himself, "Hey, I'm a pretty good player too." He showed that and showed why he has been a great acquisition for MLS.

Dwayne DeRosario sent the crowd home happy. Not just because he scored the game-winner but because his 31 minutes of action were chock full of exciting plays. He gave everything he had to put on a show in front of his hometown fans and they showed him love for it. I know Toronto FC has Amado Guevara right now but I'm willing to bet good money that DeRosario is playing for Toronto FC next year.

DeRosario is 30 years old and you get the sense that he would love nothing more than to come back home. It also probably doesn't hurt that MLS all but urged Toronto FC to deal the Brian McBride allocation to Chicago so McBride could come home. MLS will look pretty hypocritical if it doesn't show the same enthusiasm for a DeRosario move back home to Toronto. Especially considering DeRosario has done far more for MLS than McBride ever has.

Shalrie Joseph is too good for MLS. There, I said it. He didn't do anything flashy like drop back-heels or blast a goal from distance, but he just gets the job done in central midfield. You almost got the sense early on that West Ham's midfielders had given up trying to fight him for the ball because he's just so tough to take off of it. He is on a new deal with MLS but told me he still holds on to dreams of playing in Europe. Thursday night showed us once again that Joseph could step into any league in the world and hold his own.

Jonathan Bornstein looked very sharp. He had a solid game and while I still don't think he deserved the call-up he looked very dangerous getting forward and looks primed to get right back into the fight for the starting left back spot on the U.S. national team. it won't be an easy fight. Heath Pearce enjoyed a strong run in the U.S. team's most recent friendlies.

Juan Toja was adamant that no deal was done with Steaua Bucharest yet. He was pretty irate at having quotes attributed to him that he insisted were completely made up. He definitely wants to leave, and is desperate for the deal to be done, but he is rightfully concerned that premature talk about the deal could jeopardize it.

What were your favorite moments of the MLS All-Star game, eh? What stood out for you? Share your thoughts on the 2008 MLS All-Star Game Below.

Barrett to Toronto FC confirmed

Ives Galarcep — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 09:30:05 -0400

Good morning all. I'm making my way to the airport to head back home and wanted to check in with some of the latest info I've gathered here in Toronto.

The trade between Chicago and Toronto FC for the rights to Brian McBride does involve Chad Barrett. A source with knowledge of the deal confirmed to SBI that the package I discussed last night is, in fact, what Toronto will receive. TFC will acquire Barrett, a first-round pick and allocation money in exchange for the allocation spot Chicago will now use to acquire McBride.

The deal doesn't end there.

Chad Barrett is in the final year of his contract so TFC had some incentives included in the trade that will mean Chicago must give up something more if Barrett doesn't re-sign with MLS in 2009.

So why did TFC do the deal? Apparently Danny Dichio's concussion is worse than first believed and the rest of his season could be in jeopardy. With Jeff Cunningham buried in the basement of the TFC doghouse, Toronto was desperate to add a veteran forward. The club is still searching for an international forward but the hope is that Barrett will be able to step in and start while the club searches for a second striker.

As for suggestions that MLS commissioner Don Garber forced Toronto to make the deal, that is not the impression I am getting. It really came down to Toronto's forward situation becoming so dire that it had to act for fear of hurting its own chances of securing a playoff spot. Say all you want about Chad Barrett, but he has scored goals in MLS and can produce if given chances. Toronto's midfield is good enough to produce chances. It just hasn't had anyone to finish them lately.

As for Kenny Cooper and Juan Toja's impending moves to Europe, there was considerable buzz at BMO Field last night regarding the moves, with some sources saying both were done. Both players flat denied that deals were done, but players aren't always the first to know when deals are complete so we should find out pretty soon whether FC Dallas actually sells two of its best players, which would effectively pull the plug on this season.

What do you think of the Chicago-Toronto FC trade? Did TFC get enough? Did Chicago give up too much?

Share your thoughts on these stories, and any other developing stories, in the comments section below.

Cooper and Toja deny transfer deals being done

Ives Galarcep — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:50:49 -0400

Photo by ISIphotos.com

With reports circulating about transfer deals being completed for both FC Dallas midfielder Juan Toja and forward Kenny Cooper, but MLS All-Stars denied that deals were done while a team source told SBI that multiple teams have made strong inquiries about Cooper.

Reports surfaced on Thursday citing quotes from Toja where he stated that he was set to leave for Romania on Saturday to sign a contract with Steaua Bucharest. Toja denied every saying that and clarified that no deal is in place.

“People talk a lot and I’ve tried to make it clear that while it is a great opportunity and we’re trying to get it done, nothing is certain yet,” Toja said after Thursday's MLS All-Star Game. “The truth is nothing has happened and nothing has been signed so until something is signed then we don’t know what will happen.”

Cooper was less direct in his denial, simply stating that he was unaware of any deal being done.

"I don't know about anything being done," Cooper said of a potential transfer to Norwegian club Rosenborg. "I tried to stay focus on this game. It's been the highlight of my career and I just wanted to enjoy the three days in the week."

Cooper has been linked to a move to Norwegian club Rosenborg, but a source told SBI that Rosenborg is just one of three teams that have expressed interest in the All-Star striker.

Toja's move is not a guaranteed deal either. With the current bid sitting at $700,000, the transfer could stall if FC Dallas decides the bid isn't high enough for a young midfielder with two years left on is contract.

What do you think about Toja and Cooper possibly both leaving this summer? Do you think Rosenborg would be a good destination for Cooper? Should FC Dallas hold on to both players?

Share your thoughts below

Chicago and Toronto strike deal for McBride Allocation

Ives Galarcep — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:29:50 -0400

The lengthy battle between the Chicago Fire and Toronto FC for Brian McBride's rights is over.

MLS commissioner Don Garber revealed at halftime of the MLS All-Star Game that the matter had been resolved between Toronto and Chicago, though no details of a deal were revealed. A source with knowledge of the trade discussions told SBI late on Thursday night that a deal has been agreed to, though details of the trade were unavailable.

The Chicago Tribune's Luis Arroyave is reporting that the framework for a deal is in place, but it has not been agreed to yet.

One potential deal I heard of on Wednesday involved Toronto getting a package including Chad Barrett and either a draft pick or allocation. Toronto had been interested in Justin Mapp and Chris Rolfe, but the club's desperate need for forward help may force Mo Johnston to accept a deal involving Barrett. I haven't received confirmation on that being the deal, but I have heard that it was an offer that was being discussed.

As for speculation that MLS forced a trade to happen, I have not heard anything suggesting that MLS stepped in to broker a deal.

McBride is currently with the U.S. Olympic Team, which will depart for Hong Kong on Friday for a pair of Olympic tune-up matches against Ivory Coast and Cameroon. McBride could join the Chicago Fire between mid to late August, depending on how far the United States advances in the Olympics. The Americans open Olympic play on Aug. 7 against Japan.

What do you think about McBride joining the Fire? Do you think Chad Barrett could be the answer to Toronto's problems at striker? Share your thoughts below.

MLS All-Star Game Matchday

Ives Galarcep — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:56:52 -0400

Good evening folks. I'm coming to you from BMO Field and we're less than two hours from kick-off of the 2008 MLS All-Star game between MLS and West Ham United.

The fans haven't been let in yet but I can see them stacked outside the gates. A sell-out crowd is expected tonight and it will be interesting to see how Toronto fans embrace an MLS All-Star team that may have no Canadians in the starting lineup.

There is some All-Star news to report. FC Dallas midfielder Juan Toja's long-rumored move to Steaua Bucharest is set to be completed, which will make tonight's game his last in the league.

I will be doing a running commentary on the match so please check here throughout the night for updates on match. Also, if you will be watching the match please feel free to share your pre-game and in-game thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.

Enjoy the match.

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81st minute- Okay folks. I have some stories to write so I'm done for now. I'll check back in after the final whistle. Feel free to pick up the slack in the commentary department.

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78th minute- I am now being told that Multiple teams are bidding for Kenny Cooper, which could make things very interesting in Dallas this summer.

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75th minute- Someone needs to tell the linesman on the left side of the field to stop calling the game so tight.

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73rd minute- DeRosario looks mighty fresh for someone who just played 90 minutes in D.C. last night.

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72nd minute- Joseph narrowly misses a header.

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71st minute- ANGEL has a goal called off for offside. What a finish and what a pass. Shame it didn't count.

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70th minute- GOAL MLS. Dwayne DeRosario converts the PK, powering it off the underside of the crossbar. The hometown boy gets it done.

And Pat Onstad has come into the match. That's three Canadians.

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69th minute- DeRosario is taken down in the box.

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67th minute- Goal WEST HAM. And we're tied 2-2. Ashton's shot was redirected by Conrad into the MLS net.

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63rd minute- I am also now hearing that reports of Kenny Cooper's move to Rosenborg being complete are also premature.

Beckham comes VERY close on a free kick, but misses just wide.

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61st minute- The crowd is awake now. Should be a good final 29 minutes.

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60th minute- The crowd is going nuts with some very loud TFC chants.

And Beckham has a wide open shot but sends it high, leaving the crowd gasping. A goal there would have set things off here.

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59th minute- And here come the Canadians. Jim Brennan and Dwayne DeRosario are coming in for Christian Gomez and Juan Toja.

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58th minute- Did I mention how bad Frankie Hejduk has been tonight?

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57th minute- Jonathan Bornstein has had a good day today. I ripped his selection to the team but I think he's played well. Gonzalo Segares still deserved it more.

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56th minute- Bornstein with a great ball in but nobody gets to the cross.

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55th minute- Frankie Hejduk has been pretty awful tonight.

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52nd minute- Bornstein with a foul near the edge of the area. Dangerous free kick chance for West Ham.

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51st minute- Brennan and the rest of the MLS reserves have begun to warm up, setting off some applause.

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50th minute- And the "We Want Brennan" chants are back, and even louder.

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48th minute- MLS corner and Beckham goes to the best corner in BMO Field for streamers. Not that many streamers though.

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HALFTIME- In other news, the Juan Toja stories that circulated today about him being sold already are apparently false. An FC Dallas source just told me that quotes attributed to Toja regarding a move to Steaua Bucharest were fabricated. The team is in negotiations, but no deal is imminent.

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HALFTIME- Landon Donovan and Juan Pablo Angel have come into the match, replacing Blanco and Cooper.

Luis Boa Morte has also come into the match.

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HALFTIME- MLS 2, West Ham 1. A very good show overall after a rather flat first 20 minutes.

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44th minute- GOAL MLS. And it's Blanco with a SICK curler into the far corner. He cuts from his left to his right, then places a perfect shot past Green. MLS 2, West Ham 1

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41st minute- It needs to be said. It's a shame that Shalrie Joseph isn't playing in a top European league. He's absolute quality in the middle of the field.

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40th minute- Beckham takes it and it hits a West Ham defender.

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39th minute- Blanco gets taken down and now we'll see who gets to take the free kick. I say Blanco.

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38th minute- Some good passing from MLS. Would have been fun to see a rested Dwayne DeRosario on the left side instead of Juan "I can't get hurt before I leave for Romania" Toja.

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34th minute- Blanco with a beautiful cross into the area but Cooper can't get himself positioned for a good header.

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31st minute- Beckham with the rare left-footed shot to earn a corner. And here come more streamers. Okay, not that many streamers. Beckham picks out Gomez at the top of the box for an open shot but Gomez shanks it.

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30th minute- The crowd is a little more into the match now. Not sure if they're ready to root for MLS though.

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28th minute- Blanco gets the pass from Beckham and delivers a perfect back-heel to Gomez on the run. Great sequence.

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27th minute- GOAL MLS. And it's Christian Gomez with the instance response to equalize. Great finish.

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26th minute- GOAL WEST HAM. And it's Dean Asthon with a great finish off a great pass from Faubert.

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24th minute- West Ham with some better stuff offensively, but still can't test Matt Reis.

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20th minute- The first MLS corner doesn't amount to much but Beckham got the streamers treatment from the fans. Telling you, this is one weird All-Star Game.

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19th minute- Cooper with a great run and give and go with Gomez, but he can't get his shot on goal. Still some nice work by Cooper.

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17th minute- The "We Want Brennan" chants are back and they are LOUD.

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14th minute- The MLS lineup is very awkward. Christian Gomez looks a bit lost because Blanco is in his position so he's dropped back and isn't in position to do what he does well.

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13th minute- Landon Donovan was shown on the big screen and still got loud boos.

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10th minute- Carlton Cole with a nice turn and shot to force a corner. Only a few streamers for that one. They haven't replenished the stock apparently.

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7th minute- The whole Kenny Cooper as lone forward thing doesn't look likely to work today.

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6th minute- Not much to report so far. MLS with a bit more possession early on, but the game has no rhythm yet.

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2nd minute- We're under way here and the fans have already begun their "We Want Brennan" chant.

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PRE-GAME- This is really a Bizarro World All-Star Game. Every MLS player is getting loud boos when their name is announced. Well, except for Beckham, which drew a good mix of boos and cheers (and a bunch of 'Who Are Ya" chants.

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PRE-GAME- Canadian anthem just finished and, as you might expect, the crowd went wild.

The stadium is filling up pretty well as we get close to kickoff.

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PRE-GAME- We just got through the anthems and, yes, the American anthem got booed. Landon Donovan also drew some loud boos.

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PRE-GAME- The players just left the field after warm-ups. Not sure how this game is kicking off any time soon. So much for a 7pm start.

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PRE-GAME- No West Ham fan violence to report. Apparently there are no tea and krumpets here at BMO Field.

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PRE-GAME- So there are no Canadians in the lineup today. So much for hoping to get some crowd support behind the MLS team.

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PRE-GAME- A correction on the West Ham lineup. Wonderkid Freddie Sears is NOT here. Joe Widdowson is the player in the lineup. Here is his lineup:

--------------Dean-Ashton----------Carlton Cole---------

------------------------Julian Faubert----------------------

Etherington-----------------------------------------Mullins

-----------------------------Parker------------------------

Widdowson----Davenport------Ferdinand----------Neill

---------------------------Robert Green-------------------

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PRE-GAME Landon Donovan not starting is VERY interesting. He did have some ice on his knee after training yesterday so maybe he's hurt. If this was a straight coach's decision I would really have to question starting Christian Gomez ahead of Donovan.

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PRE-GAME- Estelle is still singing. Maybe someone should tell her to stop so the fans can get to their seats. We're a half hour from kickoff and BMO Field is about 10 percent full.

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PRE-GAME- Here is the West Ham Lineup:

--------Dean-Ashton----------Carlton Cole--------

--------------------Julian Faubert-------------------

Etherington------------------------------------Sears

-----------------Parker-----Mullins-----------------

Davenport----------Ferdinand-----------------Neill

---------------------Robert Green-------------------

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PRE-GAME- Here is the MLS lineup:

-------------------------Cooper------------------------

-------------------------Blanco-------------------------

Toja-------------------Gomez----------------Beckham

------------------------Joseph---------------------------

Bornstein------Conrad---Mastroeni-----------Hejduk

-------------------------Reis-----------------------------

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PRE-GAME- Estelle, who is doing the half-time show, is performing outside. I'm not really feeling the song.

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PRE-GAME- The fans are making their way in and weather is clearing up. There's still hope that this game won't be a sloppy mess.

Toronto FC 0, Earthquakes 0: A Supporter's View

Ives Galarcep — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:06:23 -0400

The San Jose Earthquakes had to figure another loss was coming when Amado Guevara stepped up to take a penalty kick on Saturday. The Toronto FC midfielder is known for being as close to a lock at converting penalties as anyone in MLS so his kick seemed like a foregone conclusion. At least before Joe Cannon saved his attempt on Saturday.

Cannon's save helped San Jose salvage a 0-0 tie, a result that continued Toronto FC's struggles. TFC has struggled badly on the road, but now scoring goals anywhere is becoming a problem for the Canadian club.

San Jose knows all about goal-scoring struggles. The worst offense in the league failed to score yet again, even though new attacking additions Darren Huckerby and Francisco Lima made their debuts for the Earthquakes on Saturday.

SBI correspondents Duane Rollins and Kevin Matthiessen took in the action and shared their thoughts on the tie with us:

Toronto comes close, but falls short yet again

By DUANE ROLLINS

About an hour after the final whistle had blown on Toronto's 0-0 draw with San Jose, most of the crowd of hardcore support that has ventured back to the various supporter's pubs is subdued. A little frustrated too. Despite having all the ball and even drawing a penalty TFC once again found itself dropping points. Eight times the Reds have taken the field since a 3-1 win against Colorado June 14.

Eight times—four league games, two cup games and two friendlies—Toronto has failed to win.
It's enough to make even the most wide-eyed optimist a little grumpy.

So we sit and vent over likely a few too many adult beverages. We share war stories from the game, talk about the need for a striker, how to make our chants and songs more unified and about our frustrations with tourist fans that venture into the supporter's section but just don't get it.

Sunshine and rainbows it ain't. Nor, at times, is it a PG-13 conversation. The boys—and it is mostly boys—need some time to recover, to shift the focus from the flat performance hours ago to the next conquest.

But, as the drinks flow and the crowd consolidates the mood slowly starts to lift. "Yes, that was the worst penalty I've ever seen in my life," you mutter to the supporter beside you, "but, if we can just get Dichio back things will be different."

"No, I don't know why Carver didn't change things up sooner, but that Ibrahim kid is gonna be something, eh?"

Laughter can be heard again. Hope for a better result the next time out is restored. The group is boisterous again, full of swagger, its confidence gleaned from the power of the whole.
We know that we belong to something. It's intoxicating. And, it matters—to us, to the city and to the team.

What happens on the pitch matters too. Clearly. But, it's always in the hours that follow a disappointing performance that full perspective dawns. Years from now it's not the details of a particularly bad cross from Carl Robinson that you will remember, but rather the friends that you stood shoulder to shoulder with each and every week. They are different ages, different cultures, different people—and most would be strangers if not for the football team you support. But, come Saturday things change. Then, you are all Reds—brothers, really, that you would do anything for.

Supporters or ultras or what-have-you, they are known by many different names the world over. In MLS they are the Barra Brava, Section 8, the ESC and more. They aren't always understood or appreciated, but they are the lifeblood of this league.

In my case they are called U-Sector. And they are frustrated by the Reds recent form. But, they also know that with a bounce here or a big play there that things will quickly change. Toronto will win again and we will be there to celebrate it. And if we are wrong? Well, we will be there then too.

New players give San Jose some hope

By KEVIN MATTHIESSEN

As Carl Robinson was whipping a nice cross into the Earthquakes box, I thought to myself, "Wow this referee has been really good. So far just about every call and every non-call has been spot on. Since this was only his second game in charge, I was quite impressed. But like my 5:20AM alarm clock, I suddenly awoke from my daydream about good refereeing by Paul Ward's whistle. I was thrust back into the nightmare that is MLS officiating once again.

Paul Ward lay a big turd on the Earthquakes today and gift wrapped a lark of an opportunity to the Reds. With Amado Guevara stepping up to take the kick, the devil on my left shoulder was saying, "This is it man, the Quakes are sunk."

The angel on my right said, "The Joe is back in form. He's gonna save this one. Just watch."

So I went with the former when I said to my wife, "Come here and watch Joe Cannon save a penalty."

And save it, he did. There was some worry of the rebound and in a split second I thought, oh here we go. Rebound right back to Amado and in. But no, James Riley championed the rebound by out-hustling Guevara to it and kicked it out. "Yeeeeeeesssss!" I cried in Max Breto-esque fashion.

I'd say that the next best thing to an Earthquakes goal is penalty save. That's what we got on Saturday and that's just alright with me. Of course that essentially earned a point for San Jose. Add to that the fact (to the best of my knowledge) no one was injured, the new boys got a nice run out, and you have satisfied Quake fans.

When the league announced the reincarnation of the Quakes during last year's all-star game, who would have thought that Toronto FC would become one of the Earthquakes best rivals? I don't think there's a soul out there that would've made that prediction, but I think that's exactly what we have. Heck, with the Galaxy rivalry flushed down the toilet by having those games at Oakland, I'd almost say it's this years best rivalry for us. (Scratch that I momentarily forgot about the Houston rivalry.)

In case you've been living under a rock, the genesis of said rivalry is thusly:
1) Ronnie O'Brien's departure
2) Darren Huckerby's snub
3) Expansion proximity

I've circled the October 25th game as a special one.

So Saturday we had the surprise start of the Earthquakes debutantes. I almost fell off my couch when I saw the starting lineup. It was another one of those moments where I've been pleasantly surprised by the San Jose leadership. I thought to myself, "Yeah why the hell not. Go show us how much ass you can kick."

I thought Scott Sealy played very well. He showed great strength and ability holding the ball up, thought quickly and distributed the ball perfectly. He did everything Kei Kamara could not except for get on the score sheet. As we did for Kamara for the first ten games or so, we'll give him the benefit of the doubt and give him time to settle in.

Francisco Lima played OK. You can see he has excellent composure on the ball and reminds me of, uh, um, Ramiro Corrales! They are both slow lefties with great ball handling and distributing skill. As he gains fitness I think they'll do OK. I hope they both start sending dangerous through balls though and enter the attack down the center more when the ball is out on the wing.

Darren Huckerby definitely looked a little out of shape, sucking wind out there. But you can tell that he is going to get plenty of chances in MLS. If he had a little bit more "go" in him, he would have had three goals. I haven't read any articles yet (to taint my views), but I bet he's quoted as being excited at his prospects this season. "Just give me a few more weeks" I'll bet he said and he's behind the defense like a shadow at dusk.

More MLS expansion into Canada: Good idea or mistake?

Ives Galarcep — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:17:53 -0400

With Canadian reports suggesting that MLS could add multiple Canadian teams in the near future, we are left wondering just how serious MLS is about further expansion into Canada.

Montreal and Vancouver have long been linked with potential MLS expansion, and now reports are surfacing that a Steve Nash-led group is set to bid for a team in Vancouver, so the easy question is this: Is further MLS expansion into Canada a good idea or a bad idea?

It remains to be seen just how serious the Canadian expansion talk is. We are hearing about bids and interest but people in Cleveland and San Antonio can tell you all about seemingly strong MLS expansion bids falling flat.

Vancouver and Montreal do look like strong candidates though and they both appear to have the elements to make MLS consider them for the expansion slots after Seattle and Philadelphia join MLS in the next two years.

What do you think? Do you like the idea of multiple Canadian cities joining Toronto in MLS? Do you think MLS should focus on American cities? Is there enough talent in Canada to stock two, three or four MLS teams?

Share your thoughts on Canadian expansion below.

Morning Ticker: MLS All-Star notes, Teves backs Ronaldo and Bare's big move

Ives Galarcep — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:47:40 -0400

Good morning folks. Apologies for the late posting but it was a late night for me here in Toronto. The MLS Player's Party was a memorable event. David Beckham didn't make it out to the party but Steve Nash helped fill the superstar quota.

There weren't that many actual MLS all-stars at the party too long (they have a game today after all), but there were plenty of MLS players in attendance (including All-Star snub Gonzalo Segares, Chicago teammate Chris Rolfe and New England midfielder Jeff Larentowicz. And no Rolfe, wasn't in town to complete a trade to Toronto to settle the Brian McBride allocation mess). There were plenty of MLS power brokers in attendence as well, including D.C. United's Will Chang, Seattle's Adrian Hanauer and Chicago Fire owner Andrew Hauptman.

Tonight's All-Star game is shaping up to be a pretty good event. I know I ripped the format, as well as the opponent, in the past but looking at West Ham's roster and hearing the MLS players talk about how badly they want to win tells me we could be in for an entertaining match.

Now, onto some news and notes from here at All-Star week and from around the soccer world:

Here is a good story from MLSnet's Dylan Butler on LA Galaxy forward Edson Buddle. Does anyone find it ironic that two of the teams in MLS that are most in need of a forward (New York Red Bulls and Toronto FC) both got rid of Buddle two years ago?

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Canadians awaiting an announcement on a second Canadian team in MLS are still waiting. There were rumors that MLS commish Don Garber would make that revelation on Wednesday at his state of the league address but that didn't happen. I would say that I don't see a second Canadian team for at least five years, and if it happens then it will be Montreal and not Vancouver. That's just my opinion. You are free to disagree.

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Real Salt Lake doesn't have any players at the All-Star Game but RSL did get stronger this week by adding midfielder Robbie Russell.

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One player RSL won't be adding is Clint Mathis, who has departed for Europe to begin a trial with IK Start. Yes, that's the same Norwegian second division club that employs former FC Dallas defender Clarence Goodson. I also hear that Mathis may not be the last American to join the Norwegian club, which is a favorite to earn promotion to the first division.

And here are some notes from outside MLS:

Tevez backs Ronaldo move

You can add Manchester United forward Carlos Tevez to the long list of people who believe Manchester United should allow Cristiano Ronaldo to leave Man U for Real Madrid. The Argentine striker stated that the club should let the Portuguese winger leave if his desire is to go to Spain. I have a feeling Sir Alex Ferguson isn't going to be too happy, but Tevez doesn't strike me as someone who is going to be afraid of the consequences of his words.

Bare set for $9 million move

Remember Gamba Osaka striker Bare (pronounced bahr-ay), the forward who absolutely torched MLS teams in the Pan Pacific Championships? He is set for a $9.2 million move from Gamba to UAE club Al Ahli.

The large transfer illustrates just what sort of competition MLS is dealing with on the international transfer market. Bare is hardly a marketing dream, just a goal-scoring machine. MLS would never pay close to that amount of money for a player like Bare, and will therefore lose out by a wide margin for lesser-known talents who could easily produce in MLS.

Liverpool signs PSG striker

Rafa Benitez continued his summer bargain shopping by adding young French striker David Ngog from Paris St. Germain for a $3 million fee. The 19-year-old striker managed just one goal for PSG last season and isn't likely to be an instant impact player. His signing is unlikely to slow Liverpool's hunt for Tottenham striker Robbie Keane.

So what do you think of Tevez speaking out? Are you disappointed not to see MLS land a player like Bare? Are you upset (or happy) that MLS isn't adding a second Canadian team yet? Share your thoughts below.

McCarty replaces injured Sturgis on U.S. Olympic team

Ives Galarcep — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:14:55 -0400

Photo by ISIphotos.com

FC Dallas midfielder Dax McCarty has replaced Real Salt Lake midfielder/defender Nathan Sturgis on the U.S. Olympic team after Sturgis suffered a right hamstring injury during training.

The loss of Sturgis leaves the U.S. team with four natural defenders on its roster (Parkhurst, Wynne, Orozco and Ianni) and a fifth in converted midfielder Maurice Edu.

What do you think of McCarty replacing Sturgis? Is the U.S. team's lack of defenders a cause for concern? Should U.S. coach Peter Nowak have called in another defender?

Share your thoughts below.

FIFA lays down law on releasing of Olympic players

Carl Setterlund — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:31:12 -0400

Photo by ISIphotos.com

In the ongoing power struggle over whether or not U-23 star players will be allowed to play in the Beijing Olympics, FIFA president Sepp Blatter has stated his position, sending out a letter to all member associations stating that the release of under-23s is obligatory, reports the Telegraph.

"The release of players below the age of 23 has always been mandatory for all clubs," Blatter said in that letter. "The same principle shall apply for Beijing 2008."

As you're probably well aware, each nation is allowed three overage players, although those players may be denied the right to play by their club teams. However, for players within the Olympic age range, release is mandatory. While many clubs have complied with this rule -- Manchester City with newly-purchased 21-year-old Jô and Manchester United with 20-year-old Anderson, both Brazilians, come to mind -- a couple have not.

Barcelona claims that La Liga has backed their decision to not release Lionel Messi, 21, to the Argentina squad, claiming that clubs are under no obligation to release their players. Two other Brazilians, both based in Germany, are heavily involved in the situation as well. Werder Bremen is trying to deny world-class forward Diego, 23, from leaving, while Shalke 04 are looking to stop Rafinha, 22, from going as well, though both players have joined their Olympic squad.

Blatter condemned these actions in his letter by saying, "It would appear to be against the spirit of the Olympic regulations to hinder players under the age of 23, who are actually the core of the squads participating in the Men's Olympic Football Tournament, to take part in the final phase of the event."

Just because Sepp Blatter is involved doesn't mean the battle for club teams to retain their star players is over. Bremen are not ready to mandate Diego's participation just yet, saying they will take their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Personally, I think it's time for some of the world's biggest clubs teams to accept their fate and move on with their season preparation, but then again I've never been faced with the idea of putting a major investment at risk in a foreign tournament.

Think Barca, Bremen and Shalke should quit their belly-aching? Should Brazil have fielded such a stacked team likely knowing it would create conflict with certain clubs? Will Blatter's letter have any effect on the situation or do you think it will be a long drawn-out process? Share your thoughts below.