Shalrie Joseph will be called to lead in 2010. (Getty Images)

The winter months can either be good or bad on a Major League Soccer club. Its all really on who leaves the club and who comes in to help out. Take the New England Revolution for instance, each year its seems they lose one big name after another either in a trade, a transfer or just someone not wanting to re-sign with them.

Yet somehow the Revs always seem to bounce back in some form the following year thanks to manager Steve Nicol. But looking at this winter one has to wonder did they lose and give up too much?

Its time to find out as we take another preseason look-in to see how the club is doing and what they need to add before the season begins.

Continue Reading…

Jeff Larentowicz could be headed to Colorado. (Getty Images)

The big offseason trade between the Colorado Rapids and the New England Revolution is finally complete. We’ve been talking about it since last week’s draft.

The Colorado Rapids have sent  defender Cory Gibbs and goalkeeper Preston Burpo to the Revolution in exchange for Wells Thompson and the rights to Jeff Larentowicz will go to the Rapids, this all according to the Boston Herald. The Revs also get some allocation and 3rd-round draft pick in 2011.

The deal is still an iffy one for Colorado but should Larentowicz re-sign with the league it will be one hell of a trade for them. I’d say the trade earlier in the day to get allocation from Toronto in-exchange for midfielder Jacob Peterson means that Larentowicz is closer to a deal with MLS rather than going across the pond like he originally wanted to.

If he does re-sign then go a head and give the win to the Rapids for this deal. No doubt their midfield will be much better with Larentowicz there. Now they need to find a playmaker in the midfield to tie everything up nicely here.

New England gets a keeper to start out the season while Matt Reis recovers from shoulder surgery. Adding Gibbs to the defense isn’t a bad move either, as long as he is healthy.

I know New England fans will not like this deal because of the loss of Larentowicz. I’m guessing that New England just didn’t have the salary cap space to re-sign him to a good enough deal here which is why they dealt his player rights to the Rapids.

What do you all make of this deal?

Jeff Larwenowicz possibly on the move? (Getty Images)

The SuperDraft is over and now clubs all around Major League Soccer are making moves to improve their rosters. Several are hoping to beef up certain areas while others hoping to get the right pieces in place to make another deep run in the playoffs this year.

I figured since there was plenty of news out there today that I’d put them all into one post rather than drag it out into several different posts. Its a timing thing really, no need to post a bunch of small posts, especially if some of it doesn’t turn out to be true.

Rapids and Revs Dealing Players

There was a deal on the table during last week’s SuperDraft that would have sent Jeff Larentowicz and Wells Thompson to Colorado for Preston Burpo and Cory Gibbs and possibly allocation money. Apparently that deal got caught up in a snag due to Gibbs’ contract and physical exam that he would need to do.

Now it seems like the deal is closer to finalizing according to Steve Goff.

Honestly if Larentowicz does re-sign with the league I don’t see how this could be a good deal for the Revs. Now if its a matter of dealing his player rights to the Rapids and he bolts for Europe then that is another thing and this deal seems more even. Continue Reading…

A couple Colorado Rapids updates for you all this afternoon (or evening depending on where you are).

First up from the desk of Steve Goff. He’s reporting that Fernando Clavijo “thought he would be fired” but did not in a recent meeting with executives from the club. Instead he was pretty much given an ugly vote of confidence, meaning he is the lame duck that we all thought he was. His contract expires at the end of the season and unless the Rapids turn things around quickly and make a MLS Cup this season, Clavijo will be shown the door after the final game.

I think the club is probably doing this because 1) they rarely make moves like this during a season, 2) they are hoping in the off-season to be able to bring in a John Spencer (former Rapids striker) or a Paul Merinar to take over, and 3) because at this point I think they believe their club is seriously still in the playoff hunt despite their recent form. I guess they don’t watch their club much either.

Clavijo isn’t the answer now, nor has he really ever been for this club. I could see him go elsewhere in this league but then again I wonder if any club would really take a chance on a guy that is well below the sea level in terms of all-time records. Continue Reading…

The day after the front office fire sale in LA, the Galaxy are set to make a couple more moves. I have learned that LA has decided to pass on former US National team member Cory Gibbs and go for Eddie Lewis with their top spot in the allocation list. (We had previously said Gibbs would sign with LA but that was before yesterday’s coaching change)

Lewis is set to return to MLS for the first time since leaving for Europe in 1999. Lewis will now join the Galaxy, currently being coached by long-time national team teammate Cobi Jones.

I like this move for the Galaxy even though he doesn’t help their defense out any. He will add another threat to the flank and in all reality he is still playing at a high enough level that should see some solid impact on the field for this club. Also, his veteran leadership should also help a team dealing with plenty of issues following the departures of head coach Ruud Gullit and team president/GM Alexi Lalas. Continue Reading…

A quick update for you all this afternoon. Sources tell me that former US National team defender Cory Gibbs has signed with the LA Galaxy.

Gibbs finalized his MLS contract on yesterday and LA will use its top spot on the allocation list to grab the oft-injured defender. No word yet to how much LA is going to pay Gibbs or for how long, but some out there are saying that the Galaxy do indeed have enough cap space to sign him.

I wonder if this all means the Galaxy are set to move another contract like a Carlos Ruiz to actually free up that space. Then again with the way the Galaxy spend money on players they probably have a higher salary cap than what we really want to believe in.

With that move Colorado will now move up to the top spot of the allocation list.

What do you all make of Gibbs going to LA? Think they could end up trading him or someone else before long?

Former US national team and FC Dallas defender Cory Gibbs completed a deal to play in MLS today. Just which club he will go to remains to be seen.

Since Gibbs is a returning US National team member he will fall into the famed allocation process. Currently the LA Galaxy own his rights and will have the first shot at signing him. If they sign him they will have to figure out a way to fit him in under the salary cap (good bye Carlos Ruiz right?).

But if LA can’t sign him, after that is Colorado and New England according to the updated allocation list. Go down that list and the next club that could easily use a defender is Chivas USA. They have the money and the space for a defender like Gibbs.

Don’t be shocked to see Columbus try to make a play for him if they can as well.

What do you all make of Gibbs returning to the league?