Montero, Saborio signings set up Ferreira deal 1 Dec 2010 The first domino has fallen. Wednesday, Seattle made Fredy Montero, the franchise's top scorer, it's newest Designated Player. Not counting Landon Donovan's grandfathered deal with the Los Angeles Galaxy, the Colombian star becomes the first MLS regular to graduate from the normal salaried ranks to DP status. MLS knew this was coming. When the new DP rule was rolled out on April 1, allowing each team to have a maximum of three slots, the league knew that its member clubs would soon need to use spots so they could retain existing players, not just to attract players from Europe and South America.
Women’s World Cup 2015 bid could get boost from the 2011 draw 29 Nov 2010 The Canadian women’s team has been drawn into the Group of Death. And it might be the best possible boost this country’s bid to host the 2015 Women’s World Cup could have hoped for. The World Cup draw, held Monday in Germany, saw the Canadians grouped with the hosts, Nigeria and France, which is ranked in the top 10 on the planet. The opening game of the tournament will see the Germans face Canada on June 26.
Whitecaps and EA Sports get in the game 29 Nov 2010 Vancouver Whitecaps and EA Sports — maker of FIFA 11, the hottest-selling sports video game, well, ever — announced a new partnership that will see EA promoting the Whitecaps through its technology, and putting in support for the development of grassroots soccer in British Columbia. The Whitecaps become the first pro soccer team in North America to become an official partner of EA.
Scottish referees standing up for themselves — and they’re right to do so 27 Nov 2010 The referees are on strike in Scotland. They have had it. They’ve had it with the criticisms of coaches and players. They’re tired of being made the scapegoats whenever a close decision goes against a fiery manager with an axe to grind. Good for them. They’ve gone on strike, leaving the Scottish FA scrambling to find refs for this week’s matches. Polish and Portuguese refs who the SFA thought it had secured to officiate this weekend’s games have gone back home. Scotland did find enough foreign refs to keep the Premier League going, so fans could be treated another weekly instalment of Rangers, Celtic and Everybody Else.
Five players who could be worth picking in the expansion draft 23 Nov 2010 Here are some of the interesting possibilities out there for Vancouver and Portland in Wednesday’s expansion draft. Here are five names that really jumped out on the lists of unprotected players released Monday.
Designated Players go up for auction 23 Nov 2010 DPs for sale or rent... rooms to let 50 cents... OK, apologies to Roger Miller for that one. But, when Major League Soccer released the lists of players its existing 16 teams had made available for Wednesday’s expansion draft, the Designated Players jumped off the page. The Vancouver Whitecaps and Portland Timbers could each max out the three DPs allowed on their rosters in the first three rounds of the draft. Not that either would do that.
Ferreira wants to make permanent deal with FC Dallas 20 Nov 2010 David Ferreira doesn’t make Designated Player money. His salary was US$300,000 in 2010. And he’s on loan, from Brazilian side Atletico Paranaense. But he said through a translator Saturday after FC Dallas’ last pre-MLS Cup training session that he wants to remain with the Hoops and get a permanent deal done. “I hope to play many years here; I’m happy, they have treated me very well. I hope everything comes together so I can stay with this team.”
Ferreira takes the MVP award 19 Nov 2010 It’s a clean sweep for David Ferreira. The FC Dallas playmaker was named MLS Most Valuable Player in Toronto on Friday. In a tight race, Ferreira got 20 per cent of the votes, edging out Los Angeles Galaxy Edson Buddle, who finished second in the scoring race with 17 goals, and San Jose striker Chris Wondolowski, who led the league …
Playoffs are here to stay — embrace them 17 Nov 2010 The playoffs bring excitement to fans. And Garber said it is what made MLS unique in the soccer world, that each team has “to have a chance every year to win some hardware, and win a championship game.”
Lots of familiar faces return to Toronto for MLS Cup 15 Nov 2010 For Toronto FC fans, who the team and league hope will fill BMO Field for next Sunday’s FC Dallas-Colorado final, the game will feature a heck of a lot of familiar faces.