I caught this story earlier in the day and didn’t look into it much until I came across it again. FIFA President Sepp Blatter has gone out and said that the US is the leading site for the 2018 Cup. His comments basically show that FIFA is willing to part from the old country for three straight World Cups and not include the US (along with Mexico and Canada) in the “Americas” selection of the 2014 Cub.

His comment’s also basically lower the hopes of England and Australia, two countries that have expressed interest in the summer classic in 2018. It also shows that FIFA is sticking to a rotation between areas. Thus meaning a current rotation dating back to 2002 could sound something like :Asia (2002), Europe (2006), Africa (2010), South America (2014), and North America (2018). I assume if this is the case Europe would get something in 2022. I couldn’t imagine there not being a Cup hosted in Europe for almost 20 years. That would be weird really.

Blatter is basically sticking it to England (a country that most believe and feel he dislikes a lot) and to surprisingly Europe (FIFA is based in Switzerland).

He wants to stick to a rotation and it will definitely be a hot topic later this year when FIFA officials meet in South Africa. I find it hard to believe that FIFA will keep Europe from having another World Cup until 2022. That is a long, long ways away. I do still believe the US will get a Cup in the next ten years or so, either be 2014 or 2018. I do love the fact that the current FIFA President is backing the US. He knows the money that can be generated if the Cup is back here.

Money talks and it looks like at least for now FIFA is listening and wisely so.

I always love it when the Washington Post releases information regarding the MLS and what players make per season. It adds to the fire of how poorly some players are getting paid to play and how over priced some are.

Just some quick notes about what I have gathered from this:

Highest Paid: Juan Fransisco Palencia (base of 692,308 and Guaranteed 1,360,000)

Most Bang for Buck:  Kenny Cooper (base of 57,750 and Guaranteed the same) *first year in league…but very underpaid*

Overpaid Player(s): Clint Mathis (Guaranteed:410,000) and Eddie Johnson (Guaranteed:875,000)

Most Underpaid: Troy Perkins (Guaranteed: 29,400) *He was given a pay rise this off season*

Those were just a few things I noticed. Other than that we all know with the player movements of this off season, there are a good bit of changed to the salaries. I always enjoy looking into them though. Especially after a season to see who was getting the most of their worth.

As for the team that won it all, Houston, I have to say they have a pretty even dispersal of pay, which may be a reason for their success.

The San Jose Mercury News reported that a deal between San Jose State University and Lee Wolff (Oakland A’s owner and developer) would bring a new stadium to the Bay Area to possible get the MLS franchise back.

The deal calls for a multi-use facility that will house 30,000 seats for the college’s football team and a 23,000 for the MLS side. The $80 million facility is scheduled to tentatively open in 2009. There is still a lot of work to be done to get a final deal on the table but from what it sounds like the ball is rolling in a good direction.

I am a little bit sketchy of the deal itself however. The two teams would be partners and would share the stadium. In the past it was the school that was really keeping the MLS club from getting it’s own place and making money. If this deal works out for the MLS and for the club in San Jose then the school has to let the profits go where they need to go (not being in their own pockets like before). Some people may worry over football lines being noticeable on the pitch before a soccer game but that is the least of my concern. I just want the MLS side to work and make money there, unlike before.

If the deal happens, which I do think it will. We will see the MLS back in the Bay Area. Which is great. I still wish the league had not left the area to begin with. I still believe whole-heartedly that if the league had found a way to stay in the Bay Area, we would currently be talking about a new expansion side in Houston. I always knew the league would end up there, it was just a matter of time.

I just hope this deal works out and the ClashQuakes return. 2008? Doubtful, but who knows. But 2009? I would put some money on it.

A lot of moves taking place in the coming day or so due to deadlines and what not. I will try my best to keep tabs on them and give an update throughout the day if I can. Updated items will be bold faced when I get them.
If you notice any names and moves that I have missed just comment below and I will get them added as soon as I can.

So where we go:

Inbound

Chicago
Ryan Coiner (trade w/Columbus)

Chivas USA
David Arvizu (trade w/New York)
Edwin Borboa (Chivas – Mexico)
Jorge Barrera (Chivas – Mexico)
Maykel Galindo (Seattle Sounders – USL)
Amado Guevara (trade w/New York)

Columbus
Andy Herron (trade w/Chicago)
Will Hesmer (trade w/Toronto)
Stefani Miglioranzi (trade w/LA)
Danny O’Rourke (trade w/Toronto)

Colorado
Roberto Brown (Tacuarembó FC – Uruguay)
Herculez Gomez (trade w/LA)
Ugo Ihemelu (trade w/LA)
Yherland McDonald (Fredrikstad FK – Norway)
Brandon Prideaux (trade w/DC)
Greg Vanney (trade w/Dallas)

Dallas
Andrew Daniels (signed)
Sandi Gbandi (signed)
Scott Jones (signed)
Tommy Krizanovic (signed)
Adrian Serioux (trade w/Toronto)
DC
Rod Dyachenko (trade w/Toronto)
Luciano Emilio (Olimpia- Honduras)
Jay Nolly (trade w/Salt Lake)

Houston
Jordan James (Cincinnati Kings – USL2)

Kansas City
Kevin Hartman (trade w/LA)

Los Angeles
David Beckham (Real Madrid – Spain)
Joe Cannon (trade w/Colorado)
Nate Jaqua (trade w/Toronto)

New England
Amaechi Igwe (superdraft)
Ryan Solle (superdraft)
Wells Thompson (superdraft)

New York
Eric Denton (claimed off waivers)
Tim Regan (trade w/Toronto)
Claudio Reyna (Machester City – England)
David Van Den Bergh (trade w/KC)
Ronald Waterreus (AZ Alkmaar – Holland)

Salt Lake
Freddy Adu (trade w/DC)
Kyle Brown (trade w/New England)
Jason Kreis (trade w/Toronto)
Chris Lancos (Kaiserslautern – Germany)
Nick Rimando (trade w/DC and NY)
Luis Tejada (Plaza Amador – Panama)

Toronto
Richard Asante (signed)
Adam Braz (Montreal Impact – USL 1st Division)
Andrew Boyens (signed)
Edson Buddle (trade w/New York)
Jose Cancela (Expansion Draft – New England)
Conor Casey (FC Mainz – Germany) * still has yet to report to camp *
Rod Dyachenko (Expansion Draft – DC)
Alecko Eskandarian (trade w/DC)
Abbe Ibrahim (trade w/NY)
Nate Jaqua (Expansion Draft – Chicago)
Jason Kreis (Expansion Draft – Salt Lake)
Ritchie Kotschau (Expansion Draft – Columbus)
Chris Pozniak (Haugesund – Norway)
Paulo Nagamura (Expansion Draft – Los Angeles)
Ronnie O’Brien (trade w/Dallas)
Danny O’Rourke (Expansion Draft – New York)
Marco Reda (Sogndal – Norway)
Carl Robinson (Norwich City – England)
Tim Regan (Expansion Draft – Chivas USA)
Adrian Serioux (Expansion Draft – Houston)
Greg Sutton (Montreal Impact – USL 1st Division)
Will Hesmer (Expansion Draft – Kansas City)

Outbound

Chicago
Craig Capano – on trial with Red Bulls
Ryan Coiner (retired)
Leonard Griffin – on trial with Columbus
Andy Herron (trade w/Columbus)
Nate Jaqua (Expansion Draft)
Tony Sanneh – contract not renewed
Zach Thornton- contract not renewed
John Thorrington – option not picked up

Chivas USA
Juan Pablo Garcia (Tigres – Mexico)
Johnny Garcia (Jaguares – Mexico)
Jesús Morales (Chivas – Mexico)
Francisco Palencia (Pumas – Mexico)
Tim Regan (Expansion Draft)

Columbus
Ivan Becerra (waived)
Jon Busch (waived)
Knox Cameron (waived)
Ryan Coiner (trade w/Chicago)
Ritchie Kotschau (Expansion Draft)
Chris Leitch (waived)
Noah Palmer (waived)
Jose Retiz (waived)
Sebastian Rozental (Maccabi Petah Tikvah – Israel)
Eric Vazquez (Miami FC – USL)
Johnny Walker (retired)

Colorado
Joe Cannon (trade w/LA)
Eric Denton (waived)
Luchi Gonzalez (Miami FC – USL 1st division)
Sasha Gotsmanov (waived)
Aaron King (waived)
Thiago Martins (Bodø/Glimt – Norway)
Alain Nkong (waived)
Melvin Tarley (waived)

Dallas
Jeff Cassar (retired)
Ronnie O’Brien (trade w/Toronto)
Justin Moore (turned down devl. contract)
Alex Smith (waived)
Simo Valakari (out of contract)
Greg Vanney (trade w/Colorado)

DC
Freddy Adu (trade w/Salt Lake)
Matias Donnet (Belgrano – Argentina)
Rod Dyachenko (Expansion Draft)
Alecko Eskandarian (trade w/Toronto)
Andy Metcalf (waived)
Matt Nickell (waived)
Brandon Prideaux (trade w/Colorado)
Nick Rimando (trade w/Salt Lake)
Robert Ssejjemba (waived)
David Stokes (waived…could be headed to USL)

Houston
Chris Aloisi (waived)
Adrian Serioux (Expansion Draft)

Kansas City
Will Hesmer (Expansion Draft)
Ryan McHahen (waived)
Bo Oshoniyi (waived)
Sergei Raad (waived)
Brian Roberts (retired)
Stephen Shirley (waived)
David Van Den Bergh (trade w/NY)
Josh Wolff (1860 Munich – Germany)
Alex Zotinca (wavied)

Los Angeles
Michael Enfield (waived)
Cornell Glen (waived)
Herculez Gomez (trade w/Colorado)
Guillermo Gonzalez (waived)
Josh Hansen (waived)
Kevin Hartman (trade w/Kansas City)
Ugo Ihemelu (trade w/Colorado)
Stefani Miglioranzi (trade w/Columbus)
Paulo Nagamura (Expansion Draft)
Josh Saunders (waived)

New England
José Manuel Abundis (out of contract)
Kyle Brown (trade w/Salt Lake)
Jose Cancela (Expansion Draft)
Clint Dempsey (Fulham – England)
Jani Galik (waived)
Pat Haggerty (waived)
Adam Williamson (waived)
Danny Wynn (waived)

New York
David Arvizu (trade w/Chivas)
Edson Buddle (trade w/Toronto)
Peter Canero (waived)
Jordan Cila (retired)
Youri Djorkaeff (retired)
Amado Guevara (trade w/Chivas)
Chris Henderson (waived – later retired)
Abbe Ibrahim (trade w/Toronto)
Steve Jolley (waived – later retired)
Mark Lisi (retired)
Tony Meola (waived)
Nick Rimando (trade w/RSL)
Danny O’Rourke (Expansion Draft)

Salt Lake
Adam Acosta (waived)
Nelson Akwari (unspecified Russian team)
Jacob Besagno (waived)
Scott Garlick (retired)
Cameron Knowles (waived)
Jason Kreis (Expansion Draft)
Jay Nolly (trade w/DC)
Douglas Sequeira (Tromso – Norway)
Jafet Soto (waived)
Seth Trembly (waived)

Toronto
Rod Dyachenko (trade w/DC)
Will Hesmer (trade w/Columbus)
Ritchie Kotschau (waived)
Nate Jaqua (trade w/LA)
Jason Kreis (trade w/Salt Lake)
Danny O’Rourke (trade w/Columbus)
Tim Regan (trade w/New York)
Adrian Serioux (trade w/Dallas)

I always felt that when the WUSA league folded a couple years ago it was due to quick expansion that we always talk about when it comes to the MLS. Well, low and behold the WUSA is on it’s way back into the American sports landscape.

This is great news for lady soccer players from all over the globe. The WUSA is a good league for women to have and I was a little upset for its folding. Next Spring it will be back.

I’ve been able to cover women’s soccer on the college level for two years now and I can tell you that there are plenty of talented players out there that will make this league worth watching. At times I honestly enjoyed watching and covering women’s soccer at school more than men’s soccer. Its not because most of the girls were worth looking at most of the time it was because of the play of the game. The girls I covered and watched were good. I mean real good.

I know a lot of them will be in this new WUSA in the very future. This only improves the already solid base that women’s soccer has in America. I just hope this time around the league stays for more than a couple years.

Hot off the press. The US will play China in a friendly in San Jose on June 2nd. This is a game basically to prepare for Gold Cup and Copa America. I like that the US is going back to a market that the MLS is currently on hiatus with. I expect a good crowd there as that city is pushing for a rebirth of their MLS club.

I didn’t have a link since the article was emailed to me, so I will just paste it here:

CHICAGO (February 27, 2007) — The U.S. Men’s National Team will return to the Bay Area on June 2, 2007, to take on China at Spartan Stadium in San Jose, Calif., at 5 p.m. PT. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN2 and Galavision, and will be available to fans online via ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker.

One year after topping Japan, 3-2, in San Francisco, the U.S. will play in Spartan Stadium for the first time in four years in the team’s final friendly before the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup and 2007 Copa America.

“The match against China is an excellent lead in to the Gold Cup,” said U.S. MNT head coach Bob Bradley. “The fans in San Jose, and the Bay Area in general, have always been extremely supportive, and we’re looking forward to getting our busy summer schedule underway with a good warm up for our regional championship.”

The June 2 match will be the eighth meeting between the U.S. and China, and the hosts hold a 4-1-2 record vs. their guests. Three of the last seven meetings between the U.S. and China have been in the Bay Area, with the last meeting coming six years ago on Jan. 27, 2001, in Oakland as the U.S. won 2-1 on a Brian McBride goal and a China own goal. The U.S. also played China in San Francisco on Oct. 16, 1977 (2-1 W), and in Palo Alto on April 4, 1992 (5-0 W). In seven meetings, the U.S. has outscored China 13-6.

Overall, the U.S. has a 1-0-2 record at Spartan Stadium and a 9-6-3 record in the Bay Area including last year’s victory vs. Japan on goals by Taylor Twellman, Eddie Pope and Clint Dempsey. The last appearance at Spartan Stadium was a 2-0 victory over Wales on May 23, 2003, on goals by Eddie Lewis and Landon Donovan.

TICKET INFORMATION: U.S. Men’s National Team vs. China Saturday, June 2, 2007 – 5:00 p.m. PT Spartan Stadium (San Jose, Calif.) Buy now at Ticketmaster.com Prices: $85 – Prime Midfield; $60 – Midfield; $48 – Sidelines; $33 – Corners; $22 – Endlines. Your presale starts Wednesday, February 28, at 10 a.m. PT; ends Wednesday, February 28, at 11 p.m. PT. Private sale is only available online at: ticketmaster.com Your password: MEMBERSHIP Public sale begins Friday, March 2, at 10 a.m. PT through ussoccer.com, all San Jose area Ticketmaster outlets (including Ritmo Latino and FYE) and via phone at 408-998-8497. Groups of 15 or more can purchase tickets by calling U.S. Soccer at 312-528-1290 or obtaining a group order form at ussoccer.com. Tickets are sold on a first-come–first-serve basis and are available for a limited time. All prices listed do not include convenience and handling charges (which will be added through Ticketmaster).

Thank you for supporting U.S. Soccer!

Again, I love that the USSF is going back to San Jose for this game. Its very important to get a club back in the Bay Area.

For one I was totally surprised to see that Houston Dynamo forward Brain Ching not appear in the line up last week against Punteranes. In his blog (linked above) he talks about the trip and how his health is.
Fitness was an issue with Ching as well as most of the club I would assume in the loss. It amazes me that none of this was reported. Not by MLS, Houston, or any random blog like this one.

But in Ching-y’s blog he talks more about the resort that the club stayed at then the game itself. I know some players hate discussing a loss and he may be one of them but in a way it sounds like the club was having too good of a time at this all inclusive resort than focusing on the task at hand; beating their opponent in a big club competition. Now I am not assuming the worst here because I am sure they were ready, I am just a bit worried at the teams focus. It sounded like more of a vacation than going to play a game for me.

You can read into it all you want and interpret it your own way. Boy, it sure is a slow news day around the league if this is all I am talking about. I could have talked about Beckham’s salary a little bit but that just seems to be getting old by now.