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

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

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?

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?

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.

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.

Eddie Lewis should join the Galaxy by Thursday night’s game with Chicago. As we all know by now, the Galaxy had to move Ruiz’s salary off its salary cap in order to sign Lewis. The Galaxy secured Lewis’ services after using their No. 1 spot in the MLS allocation order. (Speaking of that MLS Allocation order, I will have an update for you all on that shortly.)

I think Toronto is coming out on top of this deal though. I know Ruiz hasn’t had a great year in LA but he was never really given the chance after his injury at the start of the year and with the amazing turn of things with Edson Buddle. LA kind of lucked out on that one and were able to put Ruiz on the trading block because of Buddle (and to a degree Landon Donovan).

Not to say that LA won’t come up empty on this. I love the addtion of Lewis to their roster. He should provide a nice addition to the defensive side of the midfield, something most LA fans would say has been missing all year. Plus to dump a hefty salary like Ruiz never hurts when cheaper parts are doing better on the field for you anyways.

I wouldn’t be shocked to see LA only get some allocation and maybe not even a first round draft pick in return. Remember Dallas didn’t get a whole lot in return when they shipped him off to LA in the winter, so I wouldn’t expect it to be any different this time around. But then again, LA is involved in this discussion so they could get everything and the kitchen sink in this deal.

Who do you think comes out on top in this deal? Will Guevara and Ruiz work well together, or will they cause problems if things don’t go well in Toronto?

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

Well, turns out the club will be using their top allocation spot in next year’s order to grab Keller. In other words they will begin the year (at least I am reading it this way) at the bottom of the Allocation List and not the top like all expansion club usually do.

I think this will be a trend that will continue in future expansion clubs. Grab a high profile player from the Allocation system before the club even takes the field. Sure its a gamble but it could pay off in the end.

This all according to SBI, Feilhaber and the league are in talks over a potential three-year deal have him joining the Revs, which are currently sitting atop the allocation list after the Galaxy recently put in an allocation claim on U.S. midfielder/defender Eddie Lewis and Colorado claimed former U.S. national team defender Cory Gibbs.

The Revs do have the cap space to sign Feilhaber. The Revs recently acquired allocation money and also moved up in the MLS Allocation List thanks to its trade of Pat Noonan’s rights to the Columbus Crew. That move could end up being one of the smarted deals Steve Nicol has ever made here. Don’t forget that the Revs are also about to sign Costa Rican defender Gabriel Badilla here soon too.

Just think about this possible move for a second. Some people may not like Feilhaber but I think if you slide him into that midfield there is no stopping New England this year. They are already too good as it is in the midfield and the addition of him with the likes of Shalrie Joeseph, Maurico Castro, Steve Ralston, and Jeff Larentowicz and this may be the best midfield in the league.

The 23-year old is set to leave former EPL side Derby County after one miserable season with the recently relegated club. Reports had linked him to a move to Danish club AGF Aarhus, but from what I’m being told he wants to return to the States, no other real reason is given but the kid is young and maybe after this past year he decided he had enough of the European lifestyle.

I will keep an eye on this deal and let you know if anything else comes out of it in the next couple of days. With the US out of the Olympics we could see this deal get pushed a little quicker if he does indeed sign with the league.

What do you think of Feilhaber potentially signing with MLS? And how about what could be the New England midfield if he does? Sounds like the rich getting richer here.

This is all in regards to Colorado claiming Cory Gibbs and the potential Eddie Lewis claim by the Galaxy. (The reason why LA will be below Colorado is due to the Galaxy passing on Gibbs and Colorado claiming him)

Should LA sign Lewis the Allocation List will look like this:

1. New England Revolution
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. Toronto FC
13. Colorado Rapids
14. LA Galaxy

However, if something falls through on the Lewis deal, LA will remain on top:

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