TYH'S MLS BEST 11 (Week 1)

GOALKEEPER

J. Busch (CHI)

DEFENDERS

M. Harrington (KC), A. Serioux (DAL), Jose Burciaga (KC)

MIDFIELDERS

T. Cooke (COL), A. Moffat (CLB), K. Beckerman (RSL), S. Nyassi (NE)

FORWARDS

C. Blanco (CHI), A. Cristman (NE), C. Lopez (KC)

MLS kick off weekend!

Top ten rejected MLS slogans for 2008

10) "MLS fever, catch it like a case of herpes!"
9) "MLS, no we're not a house listing service!"
8) "MLS, now with more Argentineans!"
7) "MLS, the one thing we can't pay Mexicans (except Blanco) to do for us!"
6) "MLS, Shep Messing is a douchebag, but the veal is delicious"
5) "Major League Soccer, fuck college basketball!"
4) "MLS, it's something to watch...on TV...please."
3) "MLS, ask your kids, old man."
2) "MLS, hey we got an English guy who sounds like a girl."

and the number 1 rejected slogan:

"MLS, when you think about diversification and expansion of ownership, expansion of the league, the formation of Soccer United Marketing [and] the designated player, those are four things we look at as the drivers of the position that we have grown to today as opposed to where we were even just a couple of years ago...oh, and Drew Carey likes us."

MLS '08 power rankings (Week 1)

TYH’s preseason power rankings for the 2008 season of the great American soccer experiment Major League Soccer:

14 San Jose – The resurrected club, helmed once again by Frank Yallop, will not need a lot of time to adjust. Through strong defense and goal poaching, the Earthquakes will shake things up. Yallop still needs a proven goal-scorer, however, if he dreams of repeating his MLS Cup glory this time around.
Key additions: Joe Cannon, Ronnie O'Brien, Ramiro Corrales

13 Real Salt Lake – The fightin’ Mormons, well, they reportedly worked hard to overhaul their roster. And they did make some nice off-season acquisitions. Whether it will be enough to move them out of their current residence in the MLS cellar remains to be seen.

Key additions: Tony Beltran, Ian Joy, Kenny Deuchar

12 Toronto FC – TFC fans deserve a team that rewards their amazing support. It doesn’t look like they’ll get it this year. Besides Maurice Edu, Toronto still haven’t found the answer for their goal-scoring worries. Danny Dichio needs help and Jeff Cunningham isn’t it. And who will fill Ronnie O’Brien’s role? If Kiwi Jarod Smith turns into a valuable asset, I hope the team starts coming out to Flight of the Conchords.
Key additions: Julius James, Jarrod Smith

11 Colorado – The Rapids are hoping that recently acquired midfielder Christian Gomez can be their midfield engine, but with injuries to three starters this preseason it will be a rocky start. Like many of the MLS bottom-feeders, questions remain in Colorado’s attack as well. When Conor Casey is your best option, you’re in trouble.

Key additions: Christian Gomez, Jose Burciaga Jr., Rafael Gomes

10 Los Angeles – Beckham … They sold their soul to get him and now they must live with their decision, knowing that sooner or later the devil will collect what’s due. With Carlos Ruiz back in Los Angeles the goals should come a bit easier for the Galaxy, so should the distractions and disruptions. New coach Ruud Gullit is a big question mark. Will this be a breakout or just a break-up?

Key additions: Carlos Ruiz, Alvaro Pires

9 Columbus – The Crew have to be many pundits’ darkhorse pick this season. After nearly squeaking into the MLS Cup last season, Sigi has finally put together his team, and he has apparently followed the DC model, picking up a pair of Argentineans. Although the construction of his club may have some suspect seams (Eddie Gaven, Alejandro Moreno, etc.), the Crew will certainly be in the hunt.

Key additions: Nicolas Hernandez, Gino Padula, Andy Iro

8 Chicago – The Fire lost the coach responsible for their turnaround, but kept the player. Blanco’s age may catch up with him this season, meaning the Fire’s attacking depth will be tested. Fire fans hope that Polish forward Tomasz Frankowski is the second coming of Peter Nowak.
Key additions: Tomasz Frankowski, Patrick Nyarko

7 Chivas USA – Chivas Americano-style needed to get younger this off-season, as their last late-season collapse due to injury proved last year. They didn’t. A talented defense will have to carry them and Gallindo and Razov will need to stay healthy. Either that, or they’ll have to rely on Alecko Eskandarian. Yikes!
Key Addition: Raphael Wicky

6 New York – Poor Jozy. The Red Bulls did little to support the talented young striker. Angel might have another year in him and Reyna was done three seasons ago only someone forgot to tell him that. Still, they poached talented coach Juan Carlos Osorio from Chicago and he won’t stand pat. Dane Richards’ injury hurts NY bad.
Key Additions: Oscar Echeverry, Luke Sassano

5 Kansas City – The Wizards have always had trouble scoring. I’m not sure why; ladies love Wizards. But now with EdJo off to Europe, who will provide the goals in KC. Coach Curt Onalfo hopes that his South American acquisitions of Ivan Trujillo and Claudio Lopez fit the bill. Is Lopez the new Angel or the old Denilson?
Key additions: Claudio Lopez, Ivan Trujillo, Chance Myers

4 FC Dallas – A talented team with a lot of questions. Has Kenny Cooper fully recovered to form after sustaining a broken leg last season? Will coach Steve Morrow get some consistent play from his defense? If the Hoops ever figure themselves out, they could be one of the top teams in MLS.
Key Additions: Duilio Davino, Brek Shea

3 DC United – United prez Kevin Payne hopes a pair of Argentines can deliver DC to regional dominance once again, but they’re going gray up top and need some youngsters to supplement their scoring.
Key additions: Marcelo Gallardo, Gonzalo Peralta, Zach Wells

2 New England – Double-T publicly expressed his displeasure at MLS’s refusal to sell him to Europe, but whether this will affect team chemistry remains to be seen. Solid in the back and in midfield, the Revs are poised to remain one of the top teams, but the loss of Pat Noonan could impact them more than they anticipated. That is, unless, the buzz surrounding Gambian forward Kenny Mansally is to be believed.
Key additions: Chris Albright, Mauricio Castro

1 Houston – The mix of veterans and up-and-comers will keep the defending Cup champion Dynamo dynamic. New striker Franco Caraccio, 21, will need some adjustment time, but could help ease the pain of losing Joseph Ngwenya.
Key additions: Franco Caraccio, Bobby Boswell

U.S. go Pole dancing

The U.S. trounced Poland 3-0 in an friendly on Wednesday with the goals from Carlos Bocanegra, Eddie Lewis and Oguchi Onyewu.

“I thought it was a great team effort tonight,” said U.S. head coach Bob Bradley. “Obviously we took advantage of set pieces, which is always a positive. More importantly, we showed the mentality and discipline necessary to win games on the road against good opponents like Poland. I thought the crowd tonight was fantastic. It was a special atmosphere, one that our players really appreciated.”

The result is not really that surprising considering we have owned the Poles for the last few years, but it is nice to get a win away from American soil (something Bradley has struggled to do). Not much else to say about this one. Mainly because I didn't see it.

Scoring:
USA – Carlos Bocanegra (Landon Donovan) 12th minute
USA – Oguchi Onyewu (Landon Donovan) 35.
USA – Eddie Lewis 73.

Lineups:
USA: 1-Tim Howard; 6-Steve Cherundolo (17-Jonathan Spector, 72), 22-Oguchi Onyewu (23-Jay DeMerit, 63), 3-Carlos Bocanegra (Capt.), 5-Heath Pearce (20-Benny Feilhaber, 85); 10-Landon Donovan (7-Eddie Lewis, 64) 13-Ricardo Clark, 4-Michael Bradley, 8-Clint Dempsey; 11-Brian Ching (16-Josh Wolff, 63), 9-Eddie Johnson

POL: 1-Artur Boruc; 13-Marcin Wasilewski, 6-Jacek Bak, 16-Arkadiusz Radomski (19-Michal Golinski, 63), 3-Grzegorz Bronowicki; 21-Lukasz Piszczek (17-Wojciech Lobodzinski, 46), 18-Mariusz Lewandowski, 5-Dariusz Dudka, 8-Jacek Krzynowek (7-Euzebiusz Smolarek, 46); 9-Maciej Zurawski (10-Lukasz Gargula, 46), 20-Pawel Brozek (11-Radolsaw Matusiak, 46)

"Wow, Galaxy stuff is expensive"

$2100? Do you also get to be the starting goalkeeper for a month?

USA roster set for Poles

The U.S. national team coach Bob Bradley has announced the roster for the friendly against Poland at Wisla Stadium on Wednesday, March 26 in Krakow. As expected the roster does not contain any of the under-23s who recently qualified for the Beijing Games, in order to give those boys a rest following a successful campaign. The last time the U.S. played Poland was in March 2006 in Germany, and Clint Dempsey gave the U.S. the 1-0 win.

Here it is:
Goalkeepers: Marcus Hahnemann (Reading FC), Tim Howard (Everton FC).
Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham FC), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Jay DeMerit (Watford FC), Cory Gibbs (Charlton Athletic), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard Liege), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United).
Midfielders: Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Benny Feilhaber (Derby County), Eddie Lewis (Derby County).
Forwards: Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC), Eddie Johnson (Fulham FC), Josh Wolff (1860 Munich).

This the first of three European matches (England on May 28 and Spain on June 4) that will test Bradley's ability to win away from home against European teams gearing up for this summer's European Championships.

Beckham to buy MLS club

During an interview on 60 minutes, David Beckham revealed that his contract allows him the option to buy an MLS club when his contract with the Galaxy is up in 2011.

Oh, and fuck you, Anderson Cooper, "little known soccer team in Los Angeles." Little known to your metro-sexual ass. It would have been nice if you did some research. "He's not just known for scoring..." A couple interesting points, though:

• MLS attendance is up 9% since Becks arrival
  
• After five years Becks could make about $250 million
  
• Beckham still sounds like a little girl
• Andy Cooper plays like a girl

Beijing Bound: US hoses Canada

Take that Toronto FC fans. The U.S. under-23 team beat up on Canada 3-0 in the semi-finals of CONCACAF's qualifying tournament for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on the strength of two Freddy Adu free-kick goals and an extra goal courtesy of Sasha Kljestan. The win qualifies the U.S. for Beijing regardless of the outcome in the final.

The U.S. will finish out the qualifying campaign against Honduras tomorrow, also at LP Field in Nashville, Tenn. Honduras qualified for the Olympics by defeating Guatemala on PKs.

For the U.S., their attack was once again powered by double-As -- Altidore and Adu. Jozy set up both free-kicks for Adu, who shot to the top of the tournament top scorer's chart.

"Jozy made two great runs that resulted in two free kicks,” said Adu. “Jozy made a great run and the build up was great. We had a little bit of possession and the ball ended up at Jozy's feet. He turned around ran at the guy and got the foul.”

Nowak gave Jonathan Spector his first minutes with the team and put him in central defense, a position he has never played before for either the senior or youth national teams. Spector aquitted himself well, along with centerback Michael Orozco.

The draw for the Olympics will take place on April 20.

Goals:
USA – Adu (unassisted) 27th minute
USA – Adu (unassisted) 48.
USA – Kljestan (Holden) 78.

Lineups:
USA: 1-Chris Seitz; 2-Marvell Wynne, 3-Michael Orozco, 17-Jonathan Spector, 5-Nathan Sturgis; 16-Sacha Kljestan (14-Robbie Findley, 88) , 6-Maurice Edu (capt.), 10-Dax McCarty, 7-Stuart Holden; 11-Freddy Adu (20-Eddie Gaven, 82) 12-Jozy Altidore (9-Charlie Davies, 75)

CAN: 18-Joshua Wagenaar; 2-Graham Ramalho (9-Andrea Lombardo, 54), 4-Dejan Jakovic, 5-Andrew Hainault (capt.), 6-Nikolas Ledgerwood, 7-Andrazes Ornoch, 10-Will Johnson, 11-Tosaint Ricketts, 14-Tyler Hemming, 15-Tyler Roselund (17-Marcus Haber, 76), 16-Keegan Ayre (13-Kyle Hall, 30)

Patriot of the Pitch©: Freddy Adu

Wizards add aging Argentine

The big signing of Claudio Lopez by Kansas City, seemingly a done deal, again raises the question of whether MLS clubs should recruit DPs (designated players) from south of the border, or focus their energy on the Euro lot.

Lopez, who will turn 34 this year, is no spring pollo in footballing years. In his glory days with Valencia, he probably could have been listed among the Top 10 strikers in Europe, but with his 2000 transfer to Lazio (for around $45 million), the injury bug bit hard. Lopez regained his goal-scoring form after transferring to Club America, scoring 14 in 2005, but most recently, the native son’s return to Argentina’s Racing Club was less than spectacular, as he saw little action except as a substitute.

Could Lopez see a second resurgence north of the border? It is certainly possible if one considers the success of other older South American futbolers who found success in MLS (Jaime Moreno, Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Juan Pablo Angel, et al). Not to mention the old guard of MLS past (Marco Etcheverry, Carlos Valderrama, etc.).

And speaking of Etcheverry, there’s DC United’s newest addition, 32-year-old Argentine midfielder Marcelo Gallardo, a former star for South American giants River Plate. There are many that are predicting his impact on DC could be much more significant than either Luciano Emilio or Christian Gomez (who was traded to Colorado this offseason).

As for who will make the bigger splash in MLS, Lopez or Gallardo? Well, if recent history holds true, it will be Gallardo. DC Unitedn just seem to have a knack for indentifying South Americans who fit nicely into MLS. And I doubt that Kansas City (unless they are able to undergo a radical change in style) will be able to quickly incorporate Lopez into their bunker, counter-attacking, long-ball style. Lopez is a different player than Eddie Johnson, a better player to be sure, but not the head-down speedster E-Jo is. Plus, Lopez is injury prone and the physicality of MLS might mean he spends another season in the trainer's room. But whoever ends up being better off both moves are certainly worth the gamble.

I’ve certainly spoken before about the necessity of looking South, rather than over the pond, in order to build talent in MLS. But don’t take my word for it, here’s the assistant commish Ivan Gazidis talking to the AP about the importance of Latin imports to MLS:

“What is the real story of 2007 for MLS?” Gazidis said. “The actual story has been looking to South America and importing players from South America who are very significant performers in our league.”

But then the question becomes, do we raid the gabinete de medicina looking for the old-time remedies or do we take a chance on a brand new herbal supplements that seemed to have gotten pushed aside in the mad rush to find the next big thing.

No one is suggesting that MLS can compete with European clubs (or even Argentine, Brazilian or Mexican clubs) for the best of the best coming out of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, etc., but surely there are players that are supremely skilled who have yet to catch the spotlight.

That is why there is no more important job to Major League Soccer than that of MLS scout and each club should be careful to select the very best talent spotter they can. Because if you want to attract even more fans to MLS, you have to bring an even more attractive brand of football. And if you want to improve the American player state-side and develop an American style, you have to make sure he’s playing against the best possible competition.

A video of "El Piojo" in action: