Right after the deal between Philadelphia and New York it seemed like a few people immediately were emailing about the new order. The deal between the Red Bulls and Union was simple, they swapped spots, NY went down to six and Philly went to number one.

After the Union made their deal to pick up Orozco the new order now looks like this with a new leader in the clubhouse. If you are San Jose and Kansas City you have to be hoping for some more players returning home to MLS here! Let’s just hope this time around the Quakes don’t waste their allocation selection. Remember Peguero Jean-Philippe anyone?

1. San Jose Earthquakes
2. Kansas City Wizards
3. Toronto FC
4. FC Dallas
5. New York Red Bulls
6. Colorado Rapids
7. New England Revolution
8. Chivas USA
9. Seattle Sounders FC
10. Columbus Crew
11. Chicago Fire
12. Houston Dynamo
13. LA Galaxy
14. Real Salt Lake
15. DC United – Troy Perkins
16. Philadelphia Union – Michael Orozco

New year which means we do need to update the Allocation order. For those who don’t know it resets every year unlike in the old days when it didn’t. Now its a worst to first kind of order with expansion clubs getting first crack when they join.

Below is what I’ve been able to gather as the current MLS Allocation Order for 2010. Remember DC moved swapped with Philly to get the top spot to get Troy Perkins so they are now at the bottom of the order.

1. New York Red Bulls
2. San Jose Earthquakes
3. Kansas City Wizards
4. Toronto FC
5. FC Dallas
6. Philadelphia Union (traded with DC)
7. Colorado Rapids
8. New England Revolution
9. Chivas USA
10. Seattle Sounders FC
11. Columbus Crew
12. Chicago Fire
13. Houston Dynamo
14. LA Galaxy
15. Real Salt Lake
16. DC United – Troy Perkins

We may see another US national team member return to MLS sooner rather than later. Gregg Berhalter has agreed to a release with 1860 Munich in Germany, allowing him to return to MLS on a free transfer.

Right now the most likely destination will be the LA Galaxy, who currently own the top allocation spot in the league’s allocation order. Clubs right behind the Galaxy could also make a play for Berhalter’s services if they trade up to the top spot.

I think a team like Dallas or DC need to try to make a play here as they are number two and three, respectively right now in the order. All three clubs could use a veteran defender like Berhalter.

Where do you think he will land? Think the Galaxy will really be able to afford him right now?

Add LA in the mix for Bobby Convey.

Earlier this month we talked about San Jose’s interest in the midfielder. SBI is reporting this evening the Galaxy are also interested to try to bring the injury prone midfielder to the Home Depot Center.

LA is looking at the growing possibility that both Landon Donvan and David Beckham could be headed back to Europe this winter, making this move all the more needed.

What is standing in the way is San Jose’s current position in the allocation order. The Quakes are number one while LA sits in second place in the order. Do the Quakes really want Convey or are they more interested to get a deal worked out with the Galaxy here? Reports suggest the Quakes are set to sign an international forward in the coming weeks.

Getting some extra allocation money from LA might be enough to make the deal happen. Not to mention the Quakes would only have to move one spot down only to move back up to the top if LA does indeed claim Convey in the allocation process.

I still think like some people out there that Convey will return next year to MLS and sign with the expansion side in Philly. Its a move that makes sense for both parties but a move to the league a year early could be fine too. Philly may want to make a trade or Convey could work a deal in his contract if he really wants to play there (similar to what Nate Jaqua did in Houston to get to Seattle).

Think Convey will be in MLS this year or will he come back in 2010?

A few of you have been asking since last night, so here it is. Thanks to LA’s trade with Toronto and their signing of Eddie Lewis the new order goes as follows:

1. New York Red Bulls
2. FC Dallas
3. Chivas USA
4. DC United
5. Kansas City Wizards
6. Chicago Fire
7. Columbus Crew
8. Houston Dynamo
9. Real Salt Lake
10. San Jose Earthquakes
11. New England Revolution
12. Colorado Rapids
13. LA Galaxy
14. Toronto FC

Now I’m not sure if the Lewis claim will be recognized first and before Toronto claim of Johann Smith OR if the league will just go in order of who was signed first, and if that was the case then just switch LA and Toronto at the bottom.

Now the top three looks interesting here. New York won’t make any moves, you can count on that since no one will come through the allocation system that they will be interested in. I’d be interesting to see if anyone else tries to trade up with them for that top spot in the coming weeks. The Red Bulls were looking to get some extra allocation money to sign a USL player, so it could happen if they really are desperate for a striker.

Well crap, no more than two second after I hit save on the last post about Toronto FC releasing Laurent Robert to possibly make room for Carlos Ruiz, I get an update saying that Ruiz has been shipped off to Toronto.

Yep, the LA Galaxy have traded Carlos Ruiz to Toronto FC, according to SBI. Details of the deal were not available yet, my assumptions are that LA will be getting a draft pick and allocation money in return.

The Galaxy’s dealing of Ruiz now clears the way for LA to sign U.S. national team midfielder/defender Eddie Lewis.

The more I think about this deal for Ruiz and Toronto, the more I like it. He will be paired with a young attack and a quality attacking midfielder in Amado Guevara, who is apparently good buddies with Ruiz. The Reds now appear to have a forward stable that includes Ruiz, Danny Dichio, Chad Barrett and teen standout Abdus Ibrahim. So there’s some depth to this team that could come in handy down the road. Continue Reading…

You all have asked, now you all shall receive. Here is an updated MLS Allocation list fresh off the trade between New England and Toronto. Now in that trade Toronto and New England switched places, the Revs moved down to Toronto and the Reds moved up and claimed Johann Smith. After that claim they moved back down the list.

Now the Eddie Lewis signing hasn’t officially gone through. But in the event that it does the allocation list will look like this:

1. New York Red Bulls
2. FC Dallas
3. Chivas USA
4. DC United
5. Kansas City Wizards
6. Chicago Fire
7. Columbus Crew
8. Houston Dynamo
9. Real Salt Lake
10. San Jose Earthquakes
11. New England Revolution
12. Colorado Rapids
13. LA Galaxy
14. Toronto FC

Now if LA ends up not being able to get Eddie Lewis the list should appear like this:

1. LA Galaxy
2. New York Red Bulls
3. FC Dallas
4. Chivas USA
5. DC United
6. Kansas City Wizards
7. Chicago Fire
8. Columbus Crew
9. Houston Dynamo
10. Real Salt Lake
11. San Jose Earthquakes
12. New England Revolution
13. Colorado Rapids
14. Toronto FC