From year to year we see a crop of newcomers in the league that either take the league by storm or they fail to do much of anything (like most of last year’s). The 2009 bunch so far seems to be doing quite well in compairson to the 2008 bunch.

First of all we know what Seattle’s Fredy Montero did in week one. His two-goal effort against the New York Red Bulls was pretty much what we expected out of him. And as we all know if he keeps it up he will either become the Newcomer of the Year or he will be bought by some European club by mid-summer.

Montero wasn’t the only Seattle newcomer that turned some heads. Both Jhon Kennedy Hurtado and Osvaldo Alonso stood out and former USL MVP Sebastien Le Toux wasn’t too shabby either. Continue Reading…

A deal that could finally make Colorado’s offense a good one. The Rapids are set to complete a deal with Toronto FC to land Guyanese forward Gregory Richardson, according to SBI earlier today.

Colorado will send an undisclosed 2010 draft pick in exchange for the top discovery rights to sign Richardson. The former Trinidad & Tobago club Joe Public striker had been on trial with the Reds but Toronto decided to deal the striker’s MLS discovery rights rather than to sign him.

You may recall Richardson’s rise to fame when he scored an impressive hat-trick against New England in Joe Public’s 4-0 CONCACAF Champions League win at Gillette Stadium last September. That hat-trick put Richardson on the MLS map.

Richardson still hasn’t signed with the Rapids but seeing as how he has been traded away from Toronto can of tells me he will sign a deal pretty soon.

My wonder with Richardson is will he really be MLS ready? Sure he had a hell of a game back in the fall against a very injury depleated New England squad. That was only a single game. My worry is that game went too far with most MLS clubs that looked at him. I know Toronto was quick as always to put their discovery tag on him but I think looking at it now they always wanted to deal him away regardless.

What do you make of Richardson possibly joining the Rapids this year? Will he be the piece to the puzzle that Gary Smith has been looking for all along here?

It seems like trader Mo is just getting started. He got Dwayne De Rosario to come home to Toronto and now it looks like he is expected to try to bring in some more depth before the 2009 season kicks off in a couple months.

Trinidad and Tobago international midfielder Keon Daniel is set to possible come in on a trial with the Canadian side soon. The 22-year-old has 5 goals in 15 appearances with the Soca Warriors and has previously had trials with Manchester United and West Ham United.

Daniel is a young midfielder that would more than likely complete the core group that Mo Johnston is looking to have in the midflield for Toronto. Already having Carl Robinson, Amado Guevara, Rohan Ricketts, and de Rosario in the mix, you have to think adding one more solid player like Daniel to the group would easily make them the best midfield group in the league.

Another player that is being link to try out with the club is Gregory Richardson. The Guyanese striker currently plays with Joe Public FC in Trinidad and Tobago. Some may recall his hat-trick for them in their 4-0 win over the New England Revolution in the CONCACAF Champions League last year.

Earlier reports had linked Richardson to Columbus but it looks like the Crew’s rival to the north is trying to sign up Richardson before they do.

A lot of buzz after the draft surrounding Toronto continues with possible moves and other discussion around the club. Its fair to say that Toronto should have much more depth this year than in the previous years. It would be hard to imagine them not contend for a CCL spot out of Canada this year if they sign a few more guys like Daniel and Richardson.

Within seconds of defeating the New England Revolution on their own turf to move on in the CONCACAF Champions League, Trinidad and Tobago side Joe Public was already fielding offers from their hat-trick hero Gregory Richardson.

According to Goal.com, the Columbus Crew are said to be interested in the 26-year old striker that tourched the Revs last night in the 4-0 win.

When the Guyanese speedster was asked if he had been contacted by any MLS sides, he smiled. “Yes,” he said. “Only Columbus has expressed some interest.”

Eh, why not if you are the Crew. They’ve learned already that speed is what works in MLS and it will continue to do so down the stretch. Now I don’t think Richardson would be able to join the Crew this season but they could certainly add some speed and depth up top to their roster for next year if that is the case.

I don’t know how well Richardson would do in MLS but he may be worth taking a chance on if he can torch New England on their own turf like he did last night.

What do you all make of Columbus going after a guy like Richardson? Good move or just a waste of time to poke fun at their rivals?