Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber has issued the following actions in response to the behavior of coaches, players and team staff who left their respective technical areas during the 85^thminute of the April 21 Chivas USA vs. Philadelphia Union game:

• Philadelphia Union Executive Vice President and Team Manager Peter Nowak has been suspended for one additional game and has been fined $5,000 for leaving his team’s technical area, entering the field of play and initiating contact with an opposing player.
• Chivas USA Head Coach Robin Fraser has been fined $500 for leaving his team’s technical area and crossing midfield.
• Philadelphia Union has been fined $5,000 for the behavior of its players and team staff.
• Chivas USA has been fined $2,500 for the behavior of its players and team staff.

Here is a video of the incident.

Very interesting hearing the details of what go into happens to a suspended coach as well.

A suspended coach is not permitted to enter the stadium tunnel area, Team Locker Room or field level until after conclusion of the game, at which point he may enter the Team Locker Room.  He may not sit in the Press Box or grandstands. A suspended coach also is not permitted to be in communication with his Team during the course of the game.

Again, we knew Nowak would get some form of punishment and Fraser was probably due for what he got as well.

I am sort of surprised to see that Gabriel Farfan didn’t get an additional game for his conduct. That two-footed tackle was pretty reckless.

Aron Winter and Toronto FC are hoping to get their season back on track this weekend. (Getty Images)

We’re already off to a good start to the new week in Major League Soccer. Week 7 had two extra games to kick us off early last night with DC tying Montreal and Sporting Kansas City continuing their good form by improving to 7-0-0 after beating the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1.

Three of those four teams from last night have double dips this week and will see action this weekend.

For the first week in I don’t know how long, we only have a couple East v. West matchups on the slate. The majority of the weekend schedule sees conference rivals clashing against one another. Should make for a fun weekend when it is all said and done.

So here are some items I’ll be giving a closer look at this weekend.

1. Can Toronto get over the hump? One thing is clear, due to the unbalanced schedule we don’t know a ton about the Chicago Fire. I’d imagine neither do their Week 7 opponents Toronto FC who are hoping to get their first point of the season. Aron Winter is quickly getting placed on the hot seat by fans and pundits around the league. For good reason too, his team has been dreadful this season except for three games in the CCL. 

The defense for Toronto has been terrible but the offense hasn’t been up to speed yet this season either. Something has to give with this group as they do have enough talent to do well in this league. Danny Koevermans, a preseason favorite to win the Golden Boot (by me and plenty of other people) hasn’t done much and fellow DP Torsten Frings has been hurt. Something has to give with this club and the Fire could be the club to get a least a draw from here.

2. Is LA really back? The Galaxy’s 3-1 win over Portland last week was a good indication that Bruce Arena’s club wasn’t going to stay down in the cellar for too long. They have just too much talent to be down in the dumps. But that was last week and now this club heads to the road to face a good Colorado Rapids squad that is getting the most out of good teams like Seattle and Salt Lake.

The Rapids pose a tough test for the Galaxy who got Landon Donovan back on the scoresheet for the first time this season. Oscar Pareja’s club does an excellent job of frustrating teams within the midfield and uses an underrated defense to keep them in games. If the Rapids can find any bit of offense for this one, it could be a tough out for the Galaxy to get two wins in a row here.

3. Double dips for DC, KC and Vancouver. You have to love the unbalanced schedule. D.C. United, Sporting Kansas City and the Vancouver Whitecaps each play two games this week. Both D.C. and Vancouver got two games at home but neither really made a good start of it last night with a loss by Vancouver and a draw for United.

I’ll get to Sporting’s run in a moment. But for D.C. and Vancouver, this is a good chance to stay in contention in their respective conferences. United has to get more out of their offense here as it won’t be easy to stay with the Red Bulls’ attack this weekend.

Vancouver on the other hand needs their entire team to step up here. Two games in a row with disappointing defense and still a lack of offense has to worry the locals. The Whitecaps need to also take advantage of a FC Dallas squad that will be making one of their longest road trips of the season here on Saturday.

4. Sporting going for a record. With a win this weekend at Portland – Sporting KC will tie a league record for consecutive wins to start a season – set all the way back in 1996 by the LA Galaxy. Impressive to say the very least. SKC’s style may not be loved by other teams in the league but there is no doubt that they get the job done here.

A trip to Portland won’t be easy though for Peter Vermes’ club. Even though the Timbers are currently down in the standings and are not playing well at all right now, they do pose a tough threat to this record. Not to mention, the crowd at JELD-WEN is always worth noting.

Thing that Sporting is riding at the moment is their defense. A total team defense really. The back four for Sporting has easily been the most consistent and complete group this season. If they stay healthy, there is no doubt they’ll continue to win games.

5. Chivas and playing at home. So we get that Chivas USA can win. Three wins this season prove that but all of them have come on the road. Robin Fraser has to get his team in the same winning mentality at home as he has on the road. They get a Philadelphia Union squad coming off their first win of the season at home this weekend. I don’t want to spoil my predictions for tomorrow’s post but this one has a draw written all over it in my mind already. Chivas, while improved, still lacks that bite in the attack. The Union on the other hand haven’t really shown us enough this season that they have a go-to scorer.

Still with saying all of that, this one is one of the more intriguing games in my mind of the weekend. It should answer a lot of questions about each side as we’re still figuring them both out here.

6. Quakes and RSL meet up. Easily the match of the weekend in my book, Real Salt Lake at the San Jose Earthquakes. A smaller field certainly helps San Jose but we know just how good this RSL squad is here too. Defensively the matchup in this one has to be one of the best we’ve seen this season.

RSL doesn’t lose two in-a-row very often these days so don’t expect them to lay down for the Quakes here. RSL needs to get their offense going early in this one to put pressure on the Quakes. So far this season, in the one loss for San Jose, their offense didn’t get going against a team (Houston) who scored early. With no Marvin Chavez or Shea Salines on the wings though for San Jose, we’ll really get a true test of how good this squad is in terms of depth. My concern is without those two, they’ll revert to their 2011 style of play, which is not good.

Sporting KC and RSL square off in the biggest match of 2012 - so far. (Getty Images)

What else can you say about the upcoming weekend in Major League Soccer? It’s damn full. Nine matches, eight of them on Saturday. Tons of interesting matchups across the board that should have everyone’s attention.

This could be the start of where we begin to see how teams will go for the rest of the season. Six weeks in and we know a good amount about each club but it always seem that once those first few games are out of the way that teams begin to separate themselves from one another at this stage. This season should be no different really.

I have a few items I will be looking at heavily this weekend, and here they are:

1. Getting off the mark. For both the Philadelphia Union and Toronto FC, this is a big weekend. Both have win-able home games against clubs that they should beat. Toronto gets Chivas USA, a club making the cross country trip while Philadelphia welcomes in the Columbus Crew, a team fresh off a 4-1 drubbing last week from the hands of the New York Red Bulls.

Even though it is still early, this could easily be a make-or-break kind of weekend for Aron Winter and Peter Nowak. Both of their clubs have been dreadful thus far this season and neither have found their way.

Toronto has to find a way to get their offense going with Danny Koevermans, while making sure that this gritty Chivas team doesn’t make it three straight on the road. Saying that Chivas is a pushover can’t be true anymore after wins in Portland and Salt Lake this season but a long trip to Toronto could be tough for Robin Fraser’s club. Toronto has to find their game and take it to Chivas early or else they could be staring at yet another loss.

For Philadelphia – the plan is simple – find the attack and make it happen against the Crew. Whether it be Danny Mwanga, Gabe Farfan, or someone even like Freddy Adu stepping up…someone has to take over for the Union attack.

2. Reaction to Mullan. It has been nearly a year since the dreaded tackle from Colorado Rapids midfielder Brian Mullan on Seattle’s Steve Zakuani. With Mullan’s return to Seattle set for this weekend, the reception of the veteran wing could be some must-see TV. To me, I hope the Sounder fans keep it classy when dealing with Mullan. I’m not saying they should shower him with praises and roses or anything like that but I do hope that the faithful there realizes that holding a grudge against a player that has already been forgiven for too long could come back to haunt them.

My guess it will end up being mostly boos from the crowd each time Mullan touches the ball. Thankfully most fans do get bored with booing the same guy over and over for 90 minutes.

3. Can the Quakes quiet the Red Bulls? Who would have thought six weeks ago that this could be an interesting match? I certainly did not with the way the Red Bulls started the first two games of the year. Now as we enter Week 6 you have one of the top offenses squaring off against one of the best defenses.

San Jose has done well so far this season at quieting quality offenses like Seattle and Vancouver while finding ways to get Chris Wondolowski the ball. Their style and pace on the wings has come alive with Marvin Chavez and Shea Salines but for me what is so impressive is their defense. Victor Bernardez and Justin Morrow have quietly become a force in the middle of the defense. They’ll certainly have their hands full with Thierry Henry and Kenny Cooper, two of the hottest strikers in MLS.

The Red Bulls come into this match scoring 13 goals in the last three games, with Cooper and Henry doing most of the damage. So far this year the Red Bulls have been quieted by good defenses in Dallas and Salt Lake, while running all over Colorado, Montreal and Columbus. How they handle another quality defense like in San Jose will answer a lot about this team. If they can run up the score yet again this weekend, New York will certainly be a force to deal with for the rest of the season. If not, then we’ll know their kryptonite.

4. What formation does Schellas Hyndman put out this weekend? For most of the season FC Dallas manager Schellas Hyndman has used the 4-1-4-1, a trusty formation that really works best with a healthy David Ferreira. But last week against the New England Revolution, he switched it all up going to a 4-4-2. The speed of the wings with guys like Brek Shea and Carlos Rodriguez doubled with the speed of Fabian Castillo up top made it tough for the Revs to deal with at times. This move was made to counter suspensions to Jair Benitez and Daniel Hernandez but with their returns you have to wonder what Hyndman will go to next.

Typically Hyndman doesn’t like to make too many changes from game to game if he doesn’t have to but with the injury to Ricardo Villar, he may have to make a switch again when they host the Montreal Impact on Saturday. Replacing Villar in a 4-4-2 setup isn’t that difficult, seeing how he wasn’t that involved in last weeks game. But in the 4-1-4-1 setup, it proves to be a tougher challenge.

5. Battle at 15 points. Real Salt Lake head to the midwest to battle Sporting Kansas City, in the battle of the top two sides in the league. Each team has 15 points so far and SKC is undefeated after five games. Two extremely strong teams here, really no edge either way in my book as to which way this one leans.

Sporting will want to assert their speed and skill up front early in this one but so far this season they haven’t seen a defense quite like RSL. Jason Kreis’ club always plays tough against quality offenses like Sporting’s and this one will certainly come down to who blinks first.

I’m sure somewhere some executives at MLS are wishing this has been a national TV game for the league. IT would have been a great one to showcase.

6. Dreadful Timbers and Galaxy square off. John Spencer said recently that this last month has been hell, well I am paraphrasing him with that. I’m sure Bruce Arena is thinking the same thing about his club’s performances over the last six weeks as well. Both sides only have a win to bank on up to this point and neither look like the clubs most expected them to be at the start of the season.

Both teams need points but more importantly each need a big performance out of their defense in this one. Neither has shown up well this season and while you could make the point about their offenses not stepping up to the plate as well, it is the defenses that really win in this league.

7. Oh yeah, Houston and Chicago. Man I hate the unbalanced schedule for reasons like this one. Both the Houston Dynamo and the Chicago Fire have been on and off all year not because of poor play on the field but because of the schedule. Both teams have played just three games so far. Yes just three. How insane is that?

Hopefully this match will shed a little more light on just how good the Fire will be this season. I think what we’ve seen so far is they have some quality around the pitch but someone else has to step up offensive other than Dominic Oduro. The same can be said in a way for the Dynamo as their offense has to have some form of life here too.

Will DC and Dallas battle to any goals this year? (Getty Images)

Here we are, at the end of the first month of the season already and by the end of the weekend we’ll be in April. Week 4 in Major League Soccer gets started a little early with a game tomorrow night in DC with United hosting FC Dallas.

The theme of the season will still be going on as we have five matches between Eastern and Western conference clubs. Unlike last weekend though the majority (three) will be in Western conference venues.

Below are some talking points going into the new week. 

1. Will United and Dallas provide anything on Friday? Remember the two games between D.C. United and FC Dallas last year? Nope? Yeah, I didn’t think so because each ended in a 0-0 draw. Nothing to show for from each side. So what will this early and only meeting of these two clubs bring this season?

For United it could be a good chance to get more than a point but more importantly get their offense going. So far in three games the Black-and-Red have one goal to show for and it came from a rookie midfielder. The 2011 MLS MVP Dwayne De Rosario hasn’t look himself just yet as he is still getting use to some new faces like DP Hamdi Sahili. Neither have really gotten on the same page but I do think it is only a matter of time before it happens.

As for Dallas, this game is about getting points but getting back to normal. Fabian Castillo should return to the lineup and so could Brek Shea. That’s good considering the lack of offense the Hoops had in the second half against Kansas City last weekend. Even if Shea doesn’t go the full 90 for Dallas it will still be something to have him and Castillo back on the wings. If all of them can get on the same page with Blas Perez and Ricardo Villar, they could sneak out of RFK with some points.

2. RSL bouncing back. I claimed Real Salt Lake’s 1-0 loss at home to Chivas USA as a fluke. Most people did. Now RSL has to go on the road to a place they struggled at last season, JELD-WEN Field in Portland. Lucky for RSL, the Timbers are coming off a bad loss as well. This one will be all about the midfield play for me. Who takes control and gets their front men the best chances will undoubtably win this one. The talent edge has to still go to RSL but you can never count the Timbers out at home now can you?

3. Just how good is San Jose? I’ve been saying all season long that I’m not entirely impressed with the San Jose Earthquakes. A Week 1 win over New England wasn’t much and the win last week in Toronto was something to say the least. But just how good is this club? Honestly a win in Seattle against what I think could be the best team in MLS will get me thinking more about this team of Frank Yallop.

Obviously in the lone loss of the year against Houston the Quakes had no answer for a tough defense. Seattle is right up there with the Dynamo in the tough defense department, that we know. San Jose will need to play to their strengths up top with Chris Wondolowski and find a way to keep the wings involved with Shea Salinas and Marvin Chavez. Those two were very active in the two San Jose wins but were quieted in the loss. Seattle is good at controlling the game in their home stadium, so this one will be extra tough for San Jose. I have a feeling we still have a ton to learn about this club.

4. A fresh LA. A week off and now a home game against a club that has to travel across the country. Man life must be nice for the LA Galaxy. Bruce Arena’s club gets a New England side that got their first win last weekend at home against Portland. While that was nice and all a win in LA won’t come easy against a team that will be fresh. Expect LA to use all of their star power in this one.

If New England is going to get in this one they need to catch LA napping early like they did against Portland. That may be their only way out of this one. LA is too talented up front and even without Omar Gonzalez in the back they still have plenty to draw from against a New England offense that is still going through some growing pains.

5. Can Chivas make it two in a row? Some folks out there weren’t calling the Chivas win in Salt Lake a fluke. Good. I like to see optimism with this club. If they really want to impress, make it two in a row against a top club in the league. This weekend they host the only 3-0-0 team in the league, Sporting Kansas City.

Sporting looked good in their win over Dallas last weekend, controlling the match and really having their way with a Dallas squad that was truly defensive all over the field. Sporting has done a good job so far at not quitting in the late stages of the game, winning two games last so far this season.

Chivas will need another gritty performance out of their defense and from keeper Dan Kennedy. If Robin Fraser’s offense can gain some sort of spark in this one that would be nice but so far the Goats offense hasn’t given us any real reason to think that will happen.

6. What about the Fire? I get this question a bunch, why not write more about the Chicago Fire here? Simple, I’m still learning a ton about them here and this game on Sunday in Colorado will be a good chance to see what they are really made of. I liked them in their 1-1 draw in Montreal and last week’s home opener win against Philadelphia was equally nice. But going to the Mile High city is always a challenge and the Fire have to show a little more offense if they want to get out with points.

Dominic Oduro has already picked up two goals this season but he needs help from others around him like Marco Pappa and Patrick Nyarko. The big key in this game will be using the width of the field, something neither the Fire or Rapids are really great at.

Looks like it could be a long year for Peter Nowak. (Getty Images)

I know folks like myself and other writers out there didn’t make this one easy going into the season. We all kept saying the Eastern Conference was the weaker side and how it would struggle against the West.

After two weeks of the new season, that statement rings true. Outside of Kansas City and Houston – who are both off to strong 2-0-0 starts – nearly everyone else in the East has stumbled out of the gate. I’ll ignore Chicago and Montreal for the moment too. The Fire have only played a single game and it was on the road while Montreal is an expansion team, and we can’t expect the world from them yet.

The same can go for Toronto FC and the Columbus Crew. The Trillium Cup rivals have both only played a single game in league play as well but neither were good in the process. Toronto has had two extra CCL games to their name which makes me want to leave them out of this discussion. Should their league play continue to be dreadful in a month or two, I’ll talk about it then. Columbus should bounce back in my mind this weekend as they host Montreal.

So that leaves the likes of the Philadelphia Union, D.C. United, the New York Red Bulls and the New England Revolution. All are 0-2-0 with negative goal differential.

Only New England has failed to score a goal out of the gate (they join Chivas USA who is the lowly Western Conference side to be 0-2-0 and score no goals) but I’m giving Jay Heaps a bit of a pass at this point.

Two teams have coaching issues going on (Philly and NY) while DC is struggling through some growing pains in Ben Olsen’s second full season as manager.

Only in towns like New York and LA do two losses raise such questions but with the Red Bulls those questions are being raised left and right. Consider what Hans Backe has done so far this season with his starting lineups. While on the road for both goals Backe made it down right tough on his star player Thierry Henry to get any sort of offense going. Yes, no Luke Rodgers or Rafa Marquez didn’t help the situation out but in neither Dallas or Salt Lake did the Red Bulls look really dangerous.

As for the Union. Things are sliding quickly out of control after Peter Nowak’s latest debacle involving Danny Califf. Nowak suddenly leaves Califf out of the line up due to a knee injury that was never really reported. Then the Union go on to lose a rare home game against a 10-man Colorado team. Fans are still feeling the burn of the preseason trade of Sebastien Le Toux as well. **

I haven’t done a coaching hot seat post yet but if I were do to one today Backe and Nowak would certainly be on it*. I do however think that Nowak has a little more leverage with the Union front office. He’s made every move for this club thus far and will continue to do so. I think it will take a massive collapse by his club to get him fired this season. As for Backe, lose two more games (both at home) and that hot seat will be burning.

So is panic mode setting in on these clubs? Maybe, it certainly is very early to tell but I would imagine most of the fans for these clubs aren’t feeling too comfortable about their club’s outlook today.

Where do you stand with your club today after two weeks? Feeling good about things or are you close to hitting the panic button?

When Juan Carlos Osorio decided to stay in Colombia instead of going back to Major League Soccer, Chivas USA was left to go back to the drawing board. It turns out they didn’t have to look too far as ESPN Deportes is reporting this morning that the club is set to name Real Salt Lake assistant coach Robin Fraser as their next head coach.

The 44-year old Fraser has been thought of as one of the top assistants in the league for the last couple years so it is no surprise why Chivas went after him. He helped build RSL’s defense into one of the best in league history this past season. If he can do that with Chivas USA they could turn into an instant playoff contender in 2011.

I think Fraser is a good fit though you have to wonder if he really likes what he is about to get into here. Chivas USA has arguably one of the worst front offices in MLS right now due to a lack of leadership and a constant turnover. They’ve lacked a real identity since day one but I do believe Fraser is the kind of guy that can change that culture surrounding their club, similar to what Preki did when he was there.

Chivas had to get their coaching situation in order before next week’s SuperDraft. Chivas has 4th pick in this year’s draft and will need to fill a lot of holes in a hurry to compete in a very crowded western conference.

Jesse Marsch wasn't afraid of going up against David Beckham in his playing days at Chivas USA.

The 2010 season for Chivas USA wasn’t really a disaster but it was certainly a disappointment for a club that had seen the playoffs and success the previous few seasons before it. With Martin Vasquez gone the club has to go into a new direction and get someone who can get the club headed where the team needs to go.

MLSSoccer.com had a nice breakdown of the rumored candidates for the opening with Chivas USA earlier today. For those who don’t know the guys rumored to be in the running are former Chicago Fire boss Denis Hamlett, former Chivas USA midfielder Jesse Marsch, current Real Salt Lake assistant Robin Fraser, former US Men’s National team striker Eric Wynalda and former USMNT boss Steve Sampson.

All good and qualified candidates in their own right if you ask me.

On paper it seems like Sampson or Hamlett would be good fits based on their coaching experience. Sure Hamlett didn’t do all that well in Chicago but a change of scenery can always do something good to a person. We all know that Fraser is thought of as one of the league’s top assistants so getting him would be pretty big for the club and for Fraser.

The more I look at this the more I lean towards wanting to see someone like Marsch or Wynalda get the gig. I know my friends in Salt Lake will be happy with that as it means they get to keep Fraser, who will get a head coaching gig before long you can count on that.

Wynalda or Marsch present different and unique approches to the position. Both would bring a different sort of passion to the team that is needed. Wynalda could give the club a certain buzz that has been lacking for years now while Marsch knows the club well and could inject his tempered personality onto the team. But the risk is there with both as neither have had any real head coaching experience. Wynalda for the most part really has no solid coaching experience to speak of as it is.

This club needs a good shot in the arm no matter which way you look at it. They have a decent young core of players in Blair Gavin, Jesus Padilla, and Justin Braun. With a fairly high draft pick in next month’s SuperDraft (they have the 4th overall pick) they stand to get another quality young player.

A lot needs to happen to change this club but getting the right coach for a change will be huge. I know Wynalda is a risk and Marsch may not want to leave his current post as an assistant to Bob Bradley with the USMNT but each are guys the team has to look at here. The club can’t settle for a coach like they and others in the league have before. In this growing league you have to be willing to take a chance every now and then and going after one of these two guys would be just that.

So who would you want as the next Chivas USA coach? Someone like Marsch who knows the club? Someone like Wynalda? Or someone with a bit more experience?

Why isn't Colin Clarke back on some club's radar? (USLSoccer)

Its hard to believe that three clubs are still without a head coach this evening. Well one has an interim head coach but two big time clubs in Major League Soccer end the day without a lead boss, which could be setting them back a bit for the upcoming month with the transfer window opening up and the SuperDraft.

Yes I am talking about you DC United and Chicago Fire. Both still lack a manager after parting ways with Tom Soehn and Denis Hamlett respectively.

Last night we heard news that DC would not be able to get Akron head coach Caleb Porter which put their coaching search into a big spin. SBI broke news earlier that DC even went as far to try and get San Jose manager Frank Yallop and Houston assistant John Spencer for the job. San Jose said they couldn’t approach Yallop and Spencer said he wasn’t interested.

Yikes.

Are things that bad that no one wants to coach in DC? Second of all it says a lot about what DC thinks of former Kansas City manager Curt Onalfo who seemed to be the next guy in line after Porter. But with Porter out of the picture it just sounds like Onalfo was not good enough (which he isn’t by the way) to get the job. Now DC could still go that route if they end up with no other options but it sounds like they will continue to drag their feet in this search until they get someone better than Onalfo.

Why isn’t DC going after someone like RSL assistant Robin Fraser? Or former Dallas manager Colin Clark who’s now in the USL with Puerto Rico.

Chicago isn’t much better here with their search. According to ESPNChicago.com the Fire aren’t completely sold on their two final choices that were reported in former DC boss Tom Soehn or Chivas USA midfielder Jesse Marsch.

Honestly if I were the Fire I’d go for Soehn. I know things didn’t pan out in DC with him but honestly the guy can coach in my opinion. DC just had a loaded schedule with some injury issues the years he was there. Chicago won’t have as loaded of a schedule in 2010, just possibly SuperLiga again.

The ESPNChicago article also mentions some other possible candidates for the gig like Thomas Rongen (not a bad pick), Spencer (who won’t take a job until 2011 with Portland), and Clarke.

What do I think each club will do? Honestly I wouldn’t be shocked to start hearing John Harkes name for the DC gig here soon. I know he’s comfortable with his job at ESPN but he did do some assistant coaching under Bruce Arena in New York. In the end I do kind of see United settling for Onalfo. As for the Fire I think they’ll end up with a surprise pick like Clarke or even Rongen if they can get him away from his U-20 national team post.

DC's Kevin Payne is looking high and low for a new coach.

Some more news has come out today about DC United’s on-going coaching search to replace Tom Soehn. Yesterday we mentioned that Richie Williams is out of the running but a few more names have emerged thanks to Steve Goff’s latest report this afternoon. One name isn’t shocking at all if you follow the college game here in the States.

Akron head coach Caleb Porter is said to be one of the top candidates for DC’s head coach spot. Porter is a very good coach that has taken his Zips on an impressive run over the last few years going 68-11-7 record in four seasons, including 23-0 and a College Cup berth this year. As good as Porter has been in Akron one has to wonder will a 34-year old college coach that has very little MLS experience (played for both San Jose and Tampa) be a good fit for a big time club like DC?

Other names may make a little more sense though right now. Goff also mentions former KC front man Curt Onalfo as one of the candidates still left on the table along with current RSL assistant Robin Fraser, and DC assistant Chad Aston. The report also mentions DC will be looking at some foreign based coaches as well.

Honestly the club does need some sort of new direction here going into 2010. I like the idea of giving a guy like Fraser a shot over someone like Porter who has done well with a college team but will veteran players really respect someone younger than them? Hiring Onalfo doesn’t make a lot of sense to me since his teams in KC really never progressed over the years that he was in charge there. He just seems to be a better number 2 than a number one at this point. Thing is he does have knowledge of the DCU system which is always good to have.

Who DC goes for is really up in the air from here if you ask me. Either way the club will need to make a choice sooner rather than later. Goff said it would probably be in the next ten days so maybe United fans will get someone they want for Christmas here.

DCU fans who do you want here?

[polldaddy poll=2353179]

Could Preki be on the move after this season? (Getty Images)

I must say today has been full of good stuff. From MLS playoff scenarios to U-17 World Cup rosters to other items it has been a full day. Needless to say if you have missed some of these items you are in luck as I have saved some of the best links of the day to discuss here tonight.

First up I wanted to get into an excellent post from SBI about some potential coaches out there that are for hire around Major League Soccer. This all stems from the news that long-time New England assistant Paul Mariner would be leaving the Revs to coach at his old club Plymouth.

Without Mariner in the field the list of potential coaches is indeed a little thinner. But Ives brings up some points that I have been touching on for weeks in my coaching hot seat. One being that look for both Preki and Denis Hamlett to not be where they are currently at right now in 2010. I’ve been saying for weeks now that Preki is perfect for the make-over at Kansas City (his old club) and I believe Hamlett would be a good fit in somewhere like Chivas or even San Jose if they were to drop Frank Yallop (doubtful).

A few other names out there are interesting like Robin Fraser, a RSL assistant. Most of you know I’ve been saying Jason Kreis will not be with RSL next year, well Fraser may just be the right replacement as most in the MLS circles believe he is due for a job in the very near future.

There’s probably going to be at least three or four jobs open this winter. Some people don’t like that their club may be involved in this but its just part of the game.

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Top 10 Games at Giants Stadium

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Even for non-New York/New Jersey folks out there like myself this is still a worth while read. The history at the Giants Stadium is pretty impressive for soccer. I knew of Pele playing there in the old NASL days but man there was some rich soccer there over the years.

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Marketing MLS To Big Kids…or Adults

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Some real solutions to getting more butts in seats at MLS games. Something I’ve been calling for a while now, real marketing for adults. Far too long have clubs marketed towards families, soccer moms and that group. While I think marketing towards that group some works, I still believe those out of that group will come no matter what. MLS needs more young adults in their crowds and the only way to get them is to really market the league towards them. Some clubs do a better job at it than others but let’s just say more need to figure out how to get it right and start selling out games.

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U-17 Roster Announced For World Cup

A few headliners in some folks eyes line up for the US at the U-17 World Cup this month in Nigeria.

Goalkeepers: 21-Keith Cardona (New York Red Bulls), 1-Earl Edwards (Nomads SC), 12-Spencer Richey (Crossfire Premier)

Defenders: 6-Zachary Herold (West Pines United FC), 4-Perry Kitchen (Chicago Magic), 20-Boyd Okwuonu (Tulsa Thunder), 3-Tyler Polak (CSA Legacy), 2-Jared Watts (North Meck SC.), 15-Eriq Zavaleta (FC Pride)

Midfielders: 5-Marlon Duran (Latino Americana), 10-Luis Gil (Pateadores), 14-Carlos Martinez (Wilmington Jr.), 17-Will Packwood (Birmingham City, England), 11-Nick Palodichuk (Washington Premier FC), 8-Alex Shinsky (Super Nova FC)

Forwards: 16-Juan Agudelo (N.Y. Red Bulls Academy), 19-Victor Chavez (Real So Cal), 18-Andrew Craven (First Coast Kickers), 7-Stefan Jerome (West Pines United FC), 9-Jack McInerney (Cobb SC), 13-Dominick Sarle (BW Gottschee)