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Earthquakes Select First 10

By on November 21, 2007 | Follow @WVHooligan |

San Jose took the first step in rebuilding their club. They have selected 10 players from existing MLS clubs.

  • Ivan Guerrero- Chicago
  • Jason Hernandez - Chivas USA
  • Chris Pozniak-Toronto FC
  • Ned Grabavoy- Columbus
  • Brian Carroll - DC United
  • Clarence Goodson -FC Dallas
  • Ryan Cochrane - Houston
  • Gavin Glinton- Los Angeles
  • Joe Vide- NY Red Bulls
  • James Riley - NE Revolution

Now the fun begins with some trades. I will keep track and post any and all trades here shortly. Very interesting selections, some good and some not to bad. But I think they are on the right track to start a new club here with some of these guys.

Colorado, Kansas City and Real Salt Lake were not hit by an selections in this draft.

Interesting selections, as a Dallas fan it is sad to see a quality player like Goodson leave. Though I think Dallas was going to do an overhaul on the backline this off season anyways. The Poznaik pick seems like a bit of a waste to me, I would have taken a Burciaga or someone else from Colorado before I would have taken him I think.

San Jose seems to have built a decent defense for next season so far. I like the direction though some people may take this as them getting a bunch of so-so defenders to start a new club. I think the otherwise really.

What do you all think so far about this?

Continue Reading · · in Chicago Fire, Chivas USA, Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, DC United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, LA Galaxy, MLS, MLS Expansion, New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls, News and Rumors, Real Salt Lake, San Jose Earthquakes, Sporting KC, Toronto FC
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DP Discussion; MLS Making It Easy On LA

By on November 21, 2007 | Follow @WVHooligan |

One thing that went a little under my radar last week was the discussion on the MLS Designated Player rule and how guys like Landon Donovan, Eddie Johnson, and Carlos Ruiz would fair next season with it.

The MLS decided to not upgrade each player’s contract into a DP for next year, thus helping each club out, more so helping the Galaxy.  We knew last year that these three would be helped out and have their big names grandfathered into the DP status, but we didn’t expect it do go on another year.

And so it did, the MLS sneaked it in during a big time week with an expansion announcement and the MLS Cup. Right under the radar. I saw it but decided to keep it on the back-burner until now really.

In a way I understand the movement and why the league did it and on the other hand I think it is total crap. Sure it helps out my club Dallas some with Ruiz but that is another story for another day really on Ruiz with me.

No, the biggest reason why this is a crock-of-shit is because of how it helps LA. The reason is, they could kept the deal the way it was and let those guys become DPs but MLS needed the Galaxy to keep Donovan and since Galaxy president Alexi Lalas has already unloaded everything of value on the roster short of Beckham, Cannon and Donovan. Lalas really has no way of trading for a DP, so that is out of the question right now.

The MLS stepped in before the Galaxy had to unload a bunch of money and some high draft picks (they have plenty of those this year) to some club like Salt Lake or Toronto for a DP.

Lando won’t be a DP…just yet. Unless he goes back to San Jose with Yallop, which could still happen, but even that is another story for another day.

I’m with Ives on this one, how long will AEG (the Galaxy’s owner) play the “we saved your asses from going bankrupt card” to get what they want from the league?

Probably for as long as they’d like if you ask me. The MLS knows they owe a lot to AEG but how long before some of these other non-AEG clubs start to take notice and step up to the league about it? I kind of believe the league should have made LA trade for the second DP (along with Dallas and KC trading for one if they wanted to) instead of saving their asses like this.

As much as the DP has changed the landscape of the league, it only changed things for some teams that paid the loot to get a big named player. And only Chicago and New York really saw any type of success with a DP. You could argue that LA got plenty of value in Beckham and I do believe they did but the on field success was a different story all together. We know Dallas got next to nothing out of Denilson and will probably think again before they get a DP next time around.

The league is changing rules on the fly to help one club out. I think other clubs need to step up to this here. I’d be fine with making Dallas either trade for another DP spot to keep Ruiz (that is if they are keeping Denlison), it is really only fair to everyone else though.

What do you all make of this? Is this much to do about nothing or do people like me and Ives have a point here?

Continue Reading · · in Chicago Fire, Chivas USA, Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, DC United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, LA Galaxy, MLS, New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls, News and Rumors, Real Salt Lake, San Jose Earthquakes, Sporting KC, Toronto FC
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Houston Stadium Update

By on November 20, 2007 | Follow @WVHooligan |

Houston is winning championships in the MLS but aren’t making friends as easy in their own city’s town hall. Though both sides say they are close to a stadium deal for the two-time champion, however it is mostly up to the mayor of Houston. Mayor Bill White does not want to see any public money used in the building of the stadium.

“The mayor has said he would not like to use any money that could be used for firefighters or policemen,” said Andy Icken, the city’s deputy director of public works, who is heading negotiations for the city.

“If we’re going to be successful, we’ll be successful in the next two weeks.”

Anschutz Entertainment Group, which owns the Dynamo, is laying plans to build a 22,000-seat, open-air stadium at a cost of $70 million to $80 million.

Almost two years ago, AEG moved this club to Houston after failing to put together a stadium deal in San Jose, Calif. The team was renamed the Dynamo, and executives promised to get a stadium built in its new home.

The location of the new stadium has not been released, however, it will be in the downtown area.

I am wondering how much AEG will put into this project now that they have a little more cash from the Red Bull deal that just went through last week. I can expect this to be a typical AEG stadium, with a stage for concerts and what not. Probably a typical MLS stadium really, but it would be cool to see something different with this stadium deal. Hopefully something that keeps the noise level in the stadium and makes it a tough place for visiting sides to play in.

Continue Reading · · in Houston Dynamo, MLS
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Dorman To England?

By on November 20, 2007 | Follow @WVHooligan |

Yup, that’s what New England manager Steve Nicol thinks. Andy Dorman to some British club. Probably the biggest reason why they put him on the unprotected list for tomorrow’s expansion draft.

I kind of think this is a bluff in a way on New England’s part to just dump a guy like Dorman to a lesser club like an expansion team. It also reminds me of last year when Toronto called Chicago’s bluff of Nate Jaqua and grabbed him and then later shipping him off to LA. As we know Jaqua stayed with the MLS instead of bolting to a club across the pond like he wanted to.

I think this will be a similar situation with Dorman. Sure he has talent to play in England but I doubt any EPL club or even really a Champions division club picking him up this winter. Maybe he could get a chance at a lower level European league but even that seems to be a stretch in my mind at this point.

More than likely he will resign with the MLS and end up somewhere other than San Jose or New England. But this is just food for thought right now.

What do you all think of this news? Is Dorman good enough to go elsewhere or will he be in a MLS uniform next season?

Continue Reading · · in EPL, MLS, New England Revolution, News and Rumors, San Jose Earthquakes
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Expansion Draft: Exposed Names

By on November 20, 2007 | Follow @WVHooligan |

I figured it would be easier to cut to the chase and not list out every club and who they were protecting, and instead put who they weren’t going to protect in tomorrow’s expansion draft.

Some very interesting names on this list. A few that I notice sticking out like a sore thumb are guys like Pat Onstad, Denlison (no shocker there really), Greg Vanney, Jose Burciaga Jr., Abel Xavier, and Andy Dorman.

Now not all of these guys will get picked, we know that. Some are left unprotected for various reasons. Either clubs feel that San Jose won’t gamble on a high contract (Vanney) or something else. Also, the selection process on San Jose has to deal with whether or not the player will remain with MLS or not as well and if they are willing to go to San Jose or not (see Toronto last year for that reason).

I am surprised to see Houston put three starters out on this list though. I know it was probably tough for them since this club was technically the old San Jose club and some guys probably still make a home there. That is one club I am definitely going to keep a watch on Wednesday to see what kind of moves they make in this draft with San Jose.

Anyways, on to the unprotected list:

Continue Reading →

Continue Reading · · in Chicago Fire, Chivas USA, Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, DC United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, LA Galaxy, MLS, New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls, News and Rumors, Real Salt Lake, San Jose Earthquakes, Sporting KC, Toronto FC
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MLS Cup 2008 Talk

By on November 19, 2007 | Follow @WVHooligan |

Sources around the league are say that the league has determined the site for the 2008 MLS Cup already.

Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., has been chosen to host the 2008 MLS Cup on Nov. 23. Chicago and Dallas were the other finalists. Expect an official announcement soon. The Toolbox also hosted in 2003 and 2004.

Not really a big time news event here but still quality information to pass out. As much as I would have liked Dallas to get the Cup again next year, LA is a solid site. I hope they improve on what DC did this year; word is that they were one hell of a host.

Continue Reading · · in Chivas USA, LA Galaxy, MLS, News and Rumors
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Mathis Traded To LA

By on November 19, 2007 | Follow @WVHooligan |

Didn’t take long for GMs like Alexi Lalas to get back to work today. Sources say the Red Bulls have traded Clint Mathis, the club’s all-time goal-scoring leader, to the LA Galaxy for the Galaxy’s third-round draft pick in the 2008 MLS Draft.

The trade sends Mathis back to the Galaxy, the club where his MLS career started in 1998. Mathis will join the circus that is the LA Galaxy, which means teaming up with David Beckham and playing for new LA coach Ruud Gullit.

Honestly I like the move by the Red Bulls in terms of getting more draft picks. And its probably smart for LA in that terms as well since they have a slew of them (8 now I believe). Also, it makes New York’s expansion protection list a little easier to look at I think. Mathis wasn’t going to get protected anyways in my eyes so why bother here.

After the draft that New York put together last season, this is a smart deal really. The Red Bulls did draft pretty well and I could see them doing the same now this season.

What do you all make of this deal?

Continue Reading · · in LA Galaxy, MLS, New York Red Bulls, News and Rumors
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Recapping 2007 Season Predictions

By on November 19, 2007 | Follow @WVHooligan |

I feel today is as good as any day right now to do more recapping of this season. I want to take a look at predictions I made a few weeks before the season started. I labeled them as my bold pre-season predictions. It was a list of 30 things that I thought would or could happen over the course of the season.

Now these items have nothing to do with power rankings and actual game predictions from the season. So please don’t email me or comment on how I was stupid with picking games. I don’t care about that stuff right now. What I do care about is looking back at what I thought would happen this season. Its a fun and harmless thing to do. Feel free to post your thoughts and comments below.

I will basically repost this and add comments to this to see how I did. Continue Reading →

Continue Reading · · in Chicago Fire, Chivas USA, Coaching Hot Seats, Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, DC United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, LA Galaxy, MLS, MLS Expansion, New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls, News and Rumors, Real Salt Lake, San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders FC, Sporting KC, SuperLiga, Toronto FC
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Monday Morning Free Kicks: MLS Cup Edition

By on November 19, 2007 | Follow @WVHooligan |

Weird to think but as of today the season is over. Yes the 2007 MLS season is over and just as we finished the 2006 season the Houston Dynamo are on top of the league. Don’t call it a dynasty yet, I still believe aside from the early DC United champions that this league is a little too young to give out dynasty labels to anyone other than DC just yet. However Houston is mighty close I think.

What can I say about yesterday’s game. It was a very good MLS Cup, probably one of the better ones that I have watched in recent years. New England appeared to be on their way to their first title but give credit where it is due to Houston for battling back and winning the game.

Now when we think of this New England side, are they the MLS version of the Buffalo Bills? I think so, sure the Bills went to four straight SuperBowls and came up empty in each, but this is now the fourth Cup for the Revs that they walk away with nothing to show for. I hate to dwell in that label but the Revs still aren’t over that hump yet, I wouldn’t be surprised if they finally decide to go out this off season and get a big enough name to try and put them over the top for next season. Though I wouldn’t be shocked either if they continue the path that they are on and that is finding amazing talent in the MLS draft.

How about it though for Houston? Only DC has done what the Dynamo have done and that is win two in a row. I also hate to pat myself on the back here but a little over a year ago I said the Dynamo would repeat. Sure, it was probably the easiest and safest bets going on in the league to call the Orange as repeat champs but  it happened to be that way.

It is kinda nice having this season over too. Right in time for the holidays and drafts. This week will be busy with the expansion draft and then the slew of trades that go along with it. If last year is any indication this will just be a draft to move some journey men around the league some more. Houston needs to be aware though, I think they could get it hard in this draft if they aren’t careful about who they protect.

My wonder now remains on the man who scored the winning goal in the game yesterday. Dewayne De Rosario. A lot can be said about this guy and the season he had. But when time came to it in the playoffs he showed his true colors and really made me realize how good he can be. Houston did resign him this season but I wonder if it was enough to make him happy or if he will try to play the market this off season. You have to believe that his hometown of Toronto will probably try and make a deal for him and give him some more money. I can definitely see Mo Johnston doing such the thing.

The season may be over, but now the fun really begins for some people like my self. Keeping up with off season deals and news if going to be interesting this year. I can bet a number of guys will be jumping across the pond this winter, while some guys from South America will travel north and make an impact once again in the league next season.

What did you all make of yesterday’s game? Also feel free to put your input in on this week’s expansion draft. The soccer on the field may be over for now but there is a lot of work still to be done here in preparation for next year.

Continue Reading · · in Houston Dynamo, MLS, New England Revolution, News and Rumors
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MLS Cup Preview

By on November 17, 2007 | Follow @WVHooligan |

Some people have released their predictions and previews a week before the game as actually been played. I thought it was better to wait it out until the day before like normal for me here. I just wanted to make sure I got all the expansion talk out of the way this week before I even attended a MLS Cup preview.

For the first time in MLS history, the same two teams will meet in the MLS Cup Final in successive years. Last year, Houston Dynamo prevailed in a penalty kick shootout against the New England Revolution at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas after the teams battled to a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes. Taylor Twellman and Brian Ching added the game’s two goals 78 seconds apart from one another.

New England is trying not to become the Buffalo Bills of the MLS. This is their forth attempt at the league crown in five seasons. The previous three times they have lost the chance to win the Cup to the LA Galaxy (twice) and to Houston. A win in tomorrow’s Cup would only add to the already stunning year of professional sports in the New England area.

Houston is hoping to do what only DC has done before, repeat as MLS Cup champions. United were able to do it back in 1996 and 1997, but no team has been able to capture that magic since. I’ve felt all year long that Houston would be able to repeat as champions and here they are with the chance to prove me right.

Some may hate seeing a repeat of last year’s Cup but I honestly love it. Its a solid matchup left and right and all over the pitch really. These two clubs are very evenly matched, though right now I may give a slight advantage to New England due to some injuries and suspensions that the Dynamo are dealing with.

The Revolution held the season edge in the regular season series between the clubs, winning the first game before the teams played to a draw in the second. The Revs won thanks to a Shalrie Joseph goal in Houston. The game in New England was a wild 3-3 draw that saw the Dynamo’s record breaking shutout streak end.

Neither team found RFK Stadium very hospitable this season. In their one visit to Washington, Houston lost 2-1 to D.C. United, while the Revolution had a draw and a loss in their two regular season meetings against United on East Capitol Street.

The biggest match up will come in the middle of the park. Dewayne De Rosario versus Joesph. Brad Davis versus Steve Ralston. The winner there may prove to be the difference maker in my mind.

However, if you’re a Dynamo fan you have to be worried about the potential loss of Brian Ching. No Ching could mean no repeat.

That is the biggest part I worry about for Houston against New England. You can pretty much expect goals in this one with the way they played each other this season. Big thing to note, Houston has never beat New England in regulation, all their wins have come against the Revs in extra time, including last year’s Cup.

I will stick with my pre-season prediction and the pre-playoff prediction of Houston. No need to back off of them now before the big game after picking them so long ago. It will be tight early on but I think Houston will find a way to get it done in regular time for once. New England will put up a better fight this year I think. However if New England gets on the board first you can pretty much bet they will pull it out I think. They have a lot of confidence going right now and I think that is in large part due to their US Open Cup title win.

Still, Houston is what I am sticking with. I hope you all enjoy the game too. Feel free to post your predictions here as well.

WVH Prediction: Houston 2, New England 1

Continue Reading · · in Houston Dynamo, MLS, New England Revolution, News and Rumors