I feel as though the day after the MLS All-Star game I need to start announcing clean ups in aisle nine or something. So many stories from the game and the surrounding festivities this week. I kind of think we all underestimated just how big of an event this really truly was this year.

First off, I usually hate this current format for the All-Star game. A ’select’ side of MLS players against a club in preseason form. But last night’s game just looked and felt better than some of the previous ones I’ve watched in this format. I don’t know if it was just the overall level of play out of the MLS side, or the quality game (3-2 scorelines are always entertaining), or if it was just because Toronto was one hell of a host.

But getting back to reality for second, it was a good win, not a great one for the league. Beating a club that typically finishes in the middle of the EPL won’t raise too many eyebrows about how the league is coming along in other parts of the world. It will look good for a day or two and then everyone will go about their merry way come Sunday when the week 18 games kickoff.

I loved the starting lineup for the league, even though the first 20 minutes were largely a total bore. But that is expect in a friendly of this nature. But once the goals started and things got moving in the second half with all the subs, the game kind of got this electric feel to it. It didn’t hurt to see three Canadians out there and have the home crowd got absolutely bananas for Dwayne de Rosario’s game winning penalty kick.

In all I think this game was a success and this week was a success for the league. So let’s look back on some more thoughts and news from the week and try to finish up that clean up that I first mentioned. Continue Reading…

First off sorry for the long delay in posting anything today. No excuse other than laziness on my part for getting around to things today. Plus its been rather slow on the news front anyways in the league. I may dive back into some expansion discussion today, as that seemed to be the hot button issue yesterday during MLS Commissioner Don Garber’s address to the media. Told ya we wouldn’t get any actual news until later on this year…sometimes it’s good to listen to WVH.

Anyways, on to tonight’s contest. The MLS All-Stars host West Ham United as we all know by now. The Hammers seem like a quality side (not a great one though) going through their preseason shindigs. Its always tough for a club in preseason mode to turn it up a notch in a friendly like this against a group of guys that are well into mid-season form.

I think this will be a competitive match though. But the big question I am curious to see filled is how West Ham will respond to playing on the FieldTurf at BMO Field. I know that has been a topic of discussion this week and I think it will play a factor in tonight’s contest.

The Hammers will put up a fight but I see the MLS All-Stars coming out on top here. I think the lineup will be too much in terms of star power for West Ham to over come. I said they are good but I just think the collective group of All-Stars will be just a little bit better tonight.

It will be tight, with a lot of quality play in the midfield. I see Juan Pablo Angel scoring again in a starting role for the All-Stars. I also think a guy like Jim Brennan or Jimmy Conrad may get forward and surprise West Ham a bit on a set piece.

WVH Prediction: MLS All-Stars 2, West Ham 1

Yup, while some sites believe that MLS Commissioner Don Garber is going to announce something today about possible expansion to another city in Canada, I have received word that in his press conference he said nothing has changed in the league’s expansion plans.

“We’re in no rush to expand at this time,” said Garber.

Garber did go on to mention in his press conference that he expects some sort of announcement to be revealed at this year’s MLS Cup.

The main points Garber talked about today in his press conference were about respect on the field of play. Once I get more details from his press conference I will pass them along to you all.

Gotta love the kicks that David Beckham a.k.a. GoldenBalls will be sporting tomorrow night at the MLS All-Star game in Toronto.

These are limited edition adidas gold Predator soccer cleats. adidas only made 2,000 pair and they are available exclusively at Eurosport (www.soccer.com) for $200 each.

You may not know this but the 18-man MLS All-Star team isn’t the only list of players selected to the All-Star game each year.

There is also a group of players known as “inactive” all-stars, who are considered the players who would also be all-stars if the MLS All-Star Game still had the same MLS-only format….a format most of us would love to see the league go back to but that is a rant for another day.

Anyways, this distinction was created so that the same number of players could receive all-star selection contract bonuses. Still one notable snub from this list is Javier Morales from Real Salt Lake. To be second in the league in assist and not get the nod on this list is still a bit crazy to me. Some of the same cases could be made for keepers Nick Rimando and Kevin Hartman over Greg Sutton.

You be the judge though, for the most part its pretty solid. Here is the list: Continue Reading…

As the All-Star rosters are now official, its time to put together the group of eleven that didn’t make but had a damn good reason for making it. I’ve stated my opinion on some that got snubbed but figured that it would be best to put out a full starting lineup of guys that didn’t make the All-Star festivities.

If you got someone who was snubbed let’s hear it.

I’ll keep with the same 3-5-2 formation that we’ve been using for the All-Star game.

Keeper:

Jon Busch, Chicago Fire: Easily putting up the best numbers of any keeper this season. It was clear that it was going to be tough to beat out Matt Reis but surprising enough Busch had to contend with Pat Onstad too. The Canadian won since the game is in Toronto and Busch is left with nothing.

Continue Reading…

Later on today we should get the final US Olympic roster, which will more than likely mean a few All-Star slots for the MLS side will open up. Michael Parkhurst, Robbie Rogers and Maurice Edu will all probably get the call to the Olympics and will create those three open slots.

Who’s going to get to go to Toronto in their place? Luciano Emilio? Guillermo Barros Schelotto? Gonzalo Segares? All the above? None of the above?

If you answered for the last item you are sadly correct.

Instead of Emilio, Schelotto and Segares, All-Star coach Steve Nicol selected Chivas USA defender Jonathan Bornstein and FC Dallas midfielder Juan Toja, as well as the actually deserving Revs midfield Steve Ralston. Sources out there say that Toja, Ralston and Bornstein will be named to the roster later today after the Olympic roster is finalized. Continue Reading…