The Monday Morning Centerback

Every Monday morning, the MMC will offer his insight into moves made in and around the world of U.S. professional soccer:

Celtic waive midfielder Thomas Gravesen

Shalrie Josph has shown us in New England what a good center mid can do for a team. MLS should go after the 32-year-old Danish bulldog. Perhaps TFC's Mo Johnston can use his Old Firm ties. Or maybe whoever did the Benny Feilhaber and Jeremiah White deals can intercede on the league's behalf. It would be a huge acquisition for any team that's willing to take the plunge.

Galaxy make quick (and wrong) decision

Now don't get me wrong, I like Bruce Arena. He did a fabulous job with UVA, DC United and in his early career with the Nats. Unfortunately, since being let go by the USSF, his track record is shaky. With the Red Bulls, he discovered that MLS was a different league than it was in his days with United, when a trio of stars and a handful of role players could get things done. His stint in New York was disastrous. Now you're bringing him into a situation that's already a complete circus. Dealing with egos. Beckhammania. Unreal expectations. It seems like you're setting him up for failure. I would be willing to concede that he may have been the best available candidate now, but why not wait it out a while, see what Cobi can do. Or better yet, go after Houston assistant John Spencer before Colorado wises up and grabs him.

Cardiff City target EdJo

A Cup finalists Cardiff City are attempting to pry away American striker Eddie Johnson from Fulham. Hopefully this will happen. Eddie needs to get away from his American mates. He needs the spotlight to thrive and if he isn't the only oddity (an American striker, what?!?) on a team then he fades to the background. EdJo's a talented player, a headcase, but a talent nonetheless.

Hot German action

The days of Americans warming benches in the land of schnitzel and beer might be over, as Americans Neven Subotic (Dortmund), Matt Taylor (TuS Koblenz) and Grover Gibson (RW Ahlen) all scored in their debuts and helped their clubs to wins.

LA dive back into the coaching Arena

According to reports from last night's SuperClásico, the Galaxy brass was entertaining former MLS and U.S. national team coach Bruce Arena and AEG president and CEO Tim Leiweke said the club would be "lucky" to lure the coach to L.A.

"With Bruce, it's not an interview, it's a conversation," Leiweke said. "I personally think he's the best coach in the history of the league and we'd be lucky if we can get him here. That said, he's not the coach of the Galaxy; Cobi is. That's the way it is as of today."

Sounds like a done deal to me. Way to cut the legs out from under your interim coach. Thanks for keeping the seat warm, Cobi.

Reunited: Could Arena football return to DC?

DC United is slipping quickly into the panic zone and one can't help but think that after a 2-7 start the guillotine is sure to fall on head coach Tom Soehn sooner rather than later. But if he is fired, who will take his place. Enter DC's first and most beloved head coach Bruce Arena who signaled to ESPN writer Ives Galarcep that he's ready to return to the sidelines.

"For most D.C. United fans, nothing makes more sense than Arena returning to D.C. to salvage a squad that looks completely lost," writes Galarcep. "He was D.C. United's first head coach and laid the foundation for three MLS Cup titles in the first four years of the league's existence, so who better than Arena to straighten out the mess?"

It sounds perfect doesn't, like high school sweethearts finding each other years at the 10-year reunion. And I'm sure at first it would be a torrent love affair, as the fans and media reminisce about the good ol' days of magic triangles and MLS Cups. But like all reunited lovers, the reality that things have changed, that they have changed, will begin to settle in.

After all it's been a while since Arena coached the red-and-black. It was before he took over the national team and shocked the world by upsetting Portugal and reaching the quarterfinals for the first time since 1930. It was before the 2006 World Cup when the U.S., with world paying attention this time, underwhelmed and crashed out after poor performances (and some inscrutable coaching decisions) against the Czech Republic and Ghana. It was also before Arena returned to MLS to coach DC's biggest rivals New York. Arena coached the Red Bulls for a year-and-a-half finishing an unimpressive .500 (16-16-10).

In fact, it's been 10 years since Arena stood on the DC sideline as its coach. It was 1998, the year when the upstart expansion team Chicago Fire broke United's grip on the MLS Cup with a shocking 2-0 win over DC in the final. The Fire was led by another soon to be ex-DC coach Peter Nowak. Arena did managed to help DC win the CONCACAF Champions Cup that year, however.

But 10 years is a long time for any relationship. Does he remember to put the cap back on the toothpaste? Does she have an annoying habit of talking in her sleep. Does he still think it was a good idea to play DaMarcus Beasley on the right side instead of his natural left?

DC United, swept up in the sweet perfume of victories past, may rush back into Arena's arms pretty soon, desperate to get away from its current abusive relationship, but they should be careful because when they run out of good times to talk about, there's only an uncertain future staring them in the face.