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.
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.
Whitecaps, Timbers stay away from high-priced players 24 Nov 2010 The shop window featured a heck of a lot of high-priced talent. The Vancouver Whitecaps weren’t buying.
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.
Rapids bully FC Dallas, win MLS Cup 22 Nov 2010 As the Colorado Rapids gathered on a platform placed at the centre of BMO Field, jumping up and down, surrounded by sky-blue confetti, holding the MLS Cup aloft, FC Dallas midfielder Dax McCarty stood on the field, staring at the celebration. The rest of his FC Dallas teammates, losers of a 2-1 decision after extra time in Toronto, had left the field. But McCarty stood and stared at the Rapids’ celebration. Wondering what could have been. Wondering what would have happened if a ball off the foot of Colorado sub Macoumba Kandji hadn’t taken a strange deflection off defender FC Dallas George John in the 108th minute and looped past the goal line. What could have happened in penalty kicks had John’s last-gasp effort at redemption, from point blank range, not been stopped by the outstretched hand of Rapids’ keeper Matt Pickens.
A season of change for MLS? 22 Nov 2010 Basically, the league will look at a new format in which teams would start play in the fall, take a winter break, resume games in late February or March and finish the season in the spring.
Colorado’s coach thinks league MVP is feeling the heat 20 Nov 2010 Colorado Rapids coach Gary Smith wants MLS MVP David Ferreira to read the following quote. That was obvious at Saturday’s post-practice press conference at Toronto’s BMO Field, ahead of Sunday’s MLS Cup. “I think he’s feeling the pressure a little bit,” the Rapids coach deadpanned after being asked how his team planned to stop FC Dallas’ elite playmaker. “Everyone is …
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.”
Ihemelu “not sure” where things stand with Canada 20 Nov 2010 PHOTO: FC Dallas defender Ugo Ihemelu (3) trains with his team Saturday at Toronto’s BMO Field ahead of MLS Cup When it comes to national allegiances, Ugo Ihemelu is playing it cool. The FC Dallas defender has been to the U.S. national-team camp, played in a couple of friendlies, but he’s still hasn’t been capped in an official game that …
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 …