MLS Player Moves and More

Special 1 TV - Latest Episode

MLS

• Danny Allsop bids adieu to DC United
• Rev sign first Home Grown player, 16 yr old M/F Diego Fagundez 
• Vancouver: Whitecaps make US Int'l Demerit 1st signing 
• Philadelphia: Union's Unique Academy Structure
• Generation Adidas Graduates after 2010
• Match Fit USA's new playoff suggestion 
• Brian Straus's new playoff suggestion

Interesting Reads

• MLS Ignores US Soccer History

Tournaments

• Copa Sudamericana: LDU defeats Independiente in Semi 1st leg
• Mexican Liguilla: 2 draws in Mexican playoffs

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News and Views from Tue Jul 20

MLS

• Nick Green thinks: MLS needs to stop being so friendly. I'm not so sure about that. I think the exposure the league gets, particularly to the foreign teams' players, outweighs the negatives that Nick outlines in his piece. Gotta think that players give MLS a second look after coming here to play in these friendlies.
• Tactical adjustment proves genesis for FCD victory over RSL.  
• New formation sparks Colorado's comeback.  
• Real Salt Lake Development Academy Hopes To Sparkle.  
• KC Agrees to Terms with D Nikos Kounenakis.
• Revolution's Steve Ralston Retires.

Club Tourneys

• N.A. SuperLiga: New England 1, Morelia 0.
• N.A. SuperLiga: Chicago 1, Pumas 0.
• New England and Morelia thru to semifinals from Group B. Group A plays Wednesday.

 Around the World and other Stuff

• Does America Need More Indoor Soccer?
• Tim Vickery: Tim's usual excellent work examining South American football.   
• Development Academy Finals Wrap-Up. 
• U.S. soccer could use a new system for college-age players. 
• Andrew Guest: Reflections on South Africa 2010 and the Contradictions of Fandom. 
• CONCACAF: The confusing Liberia Mía saga. 

Player Moves

• Joe Cole to Liverpool. 
• Rangers defender Wilson to Liverpool. 

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After the Weekend May 22-23

MLS

• Weekly Attendance report.
• Game recaps at MLSSoccer.com.
• RBNY beats Juventus 3-1.
• Chicago fail at Sister Cities International.
• Galaxy down Boca Jrs.

Interesting Reads

• A link to pass along to your 'new to soccer' friends. Rules of the game.
• Lord Triesman, former chairman of the Football Association and entrapment.
• How football can keep the lid on strife.
• UCL on Fox, the emergence of the US football fan.
• US player profile: Sacha Kljestan.
• Soccer's foothold in the US. 
• For England fans: The Guardian's football coverage.

Around the World

• SoccerLens: Swiss Football Rocked By Europe-Wide Match Fixing Scandal.
• Toluca wins Mexican Clausura.
• Campeonato Brasileiro update.

World Cup

• Foreign fans staying home, revised estimates reveal. Huge financial shortfall predicted.
• The real World Cup prize, broadcast rights.

Club Tourneys

• Inter Milan wins UEFA Champions League with 2-0 win over Bayern Munich. Serie A keeps 4th UCL spot.
• Between the two UCL finalists, 21 players are World Cup bound.
• UCL final: Passing statistics.

The Business of Soccer

• Brian Quarstad: AC St. Louis update for 5/22.
• Bill Archer: On St. Louis and the future of soccer.

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News and Views from Thurs May 20

MLS

• LA and Columbus remain undefeated despite missing top players.
• Ngwenya finally rejoins Houston.
• Rev U16 players honored by US Soccer.
• Union loan Zimmerman to Harrisburg.
• Red Bull Arena, will it matter?

The Business of Soccer

• Seattle Sounders named as 2010 pro sports team of the year.
• Richard Farley is reporting that NASL's AC St. Louis and WPS's St. Louis Athletica are on the brink of going out of business.
• Inside Minnesota Soccer with more on USL and NASL.

Interesting Reads

• Sir Alex Ferguson on American soccer and MLS.
• Steve Davis: Big media should cover soccer correctly or not at all.
• The worst job in soccer.
• Beau Dure: Why college still produces pro talent.

World Cup

• Goal.com debate: Who should start at the back for the US?
• A study in National team training techniques.
• The WC created this soccer fan.

Around the World

• Brasil's Internacional and Universidad de Chile join Sao Paulo and Chivas de Guadalajara in Copa Libertadores semifinals.
• Mexican Liguilla final - Toluca/Santos draw in first leg.
• Nepal league postponed indefinitely.

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News and Views from Wed May 19

MLS

• Expansion: Miami fans renew expansion push. 
• LA draws Puerto Rico, Seattle draws Central American team in CCL preliminary play.
• Crew set CONCACAF Champions League as priority.
• Portuguese champs Benfica defeat Revs in friendly.
• Philadelphia sells out season ticket packages.

Interesting Reads

• Peter Wilt: Sports results effect on one fan's psyche.
• Some statistical comparisons of the top Euro leagues.
• US players and the Mexican league.
• Brian Zygo: Americans cheering for England and the USA on June 12.

Player Moves

• David Villa moves to Barcelona.
• Keeper Ben Foster signs with Birmingham City.

The Business of Soccer

• The latest accounts of EPL clubs.
• European reform movement.
• La Liga debts. Trouble ahead?

Club Tourneys

• CONCACAF Champions League draw.
• Sevilla win Copa del Rey. 
• Sao Paulo over Cruzeiro to move into Copa Libertadores semifinals.
• Canadian NutraLite Championship: Vancouver draws with Toronto to stay alive in tourney.
• Chicago Fire fall as Sister Cities International Tourney gets underway.

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News and Views from Wed May 12

MLS

• Impact of US 30 man squad on MLS teams.
• Hispanic Millenials: The future of MLS.
• Pro/Reg: The subject has been beaten to death, but this piece at least has a fresh take. Feel free to disagree.
• DC United getting better, but is it too late.

Interesting Reads

• In the aftermath of Inter Milan's victory over Barcelona, the question arises, How important is possession?
• Sanford's Soccer Net: Just a bunch of good stuff.
• Peter Wilt: Are we there yet? (soccer in the US)
• Soccer journalism in the US. And Fake Sigi did a fine follow up.
• Paul Scholes: Not in South Africa, in Orlando, Florida.

Around the World

• A-League looking to the US for players.
• Two draws in Mexican Liguilla semifinal 1st legs.

The Business of Soccer

• English Premier League proposes new compensation deal for young players.

World Cup

• Team profile: Ivory Coast.
• Team profile: New Zealand.
• The Guardian's World Cup section. Tons of news. A good link to bookmark for WC2010.
• Goal.com: The 23 man reject squad.
• A conversation with David Downs of GoUSABid.

Club Tournaments

• US Open Cup  - Competition structure finalized - RBNY over New England.
  
• CAF Champions League(Africa) - Top clubs move through.
  
• AFC Champions League(Asia) - 4 teams take their place in quarterfinals.
  
• UEFA Champions League(Europe) - final May 22, Bayern Munich v Inter Milan
  
• CONCACAF Champions League(North America) - 2010 Champs - Pachuca
  
• Copa Libertadores(South America) - U de Chile, Sao Paolo win 1st leg quarterfinal matches.
  
• Europa League(Europe) - Atlético Madrid defeats Fulham to win Europa League title.
  
• Nutralite Canadian Championship - Toronto win eliminates Montreal.
  

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After the Weekend May 8-9

MLS

• MLS Weekly attendance report.
• Podcast: MLS weekend review show.
• League makes push for top internationals.
• 14 year old defender named winner of Sueño MLS 2010. Meanwhile, former winner Funes Mori scored a hat trick for his Argentine club River Plate. 
• Seattle fans offered rebate for poor performance.

Interesting Reads

• Bill's Sports Maps. I've had this site bookmarked for quite some time.
• David Hill's 2009-10 'Said and Done' awards. A fun read.
• USMNT U17 trip canceled.
• While trying to locate an english language report on the Mexican liguilla(playoffs) on ESPNSoccernet, I ran across this old piece by Frank Dell'Apa on the Mexican Primera and MLS playoffs.
• Arsene Wenger on next year's Premier League squad cap.

Around the World

• Bayern Munich seal Bundesliga title.
• USSF D2 standings.
• Mexican semifinals set.
• Benfica wins Portuguese Premier League title.
• The Puerto Rico Islanders won the CFU Club Champions Cup.
• Mexican liguilla semifinals:  Pachuca v Toluca - Morelia v Santos, 1st legs Wednesday, 2nd legs Saturday

World Cup

• Noah Davis: New CONCACAF World Cup qualifying system. OLR first linked to a post on Hexagonal Blog about this issue.
• Carlo Costly injury will have him miss World Cup for Honduras.

The Business of Soccer

• Bundesliga is an economic force.
• West Ham may offer shares to supporters.

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Title and Champions League Races in Europe

	GP	W	D	L	GD	Pts
EPL - Final
Chelsea	38	27	5	6	71	86
Manchester Utd	38	27	4	7	58	85
Arsenal	38	23	6	9	42	75
Tottenham	38	21	7	10	26	70
Manchester City	38	18	13	7	28	67
Aston Villa	38	17	13	8	13	64
Bundesliga - Final
Bayern Munich	34	20	10	4	41	70
Schalke 04	34	19	8	7	22	65
Werder Bremen	34	17	10	7	31	61
Bayer Leverkusen	34	15	14	5	27	59
Dortmund	34	16	9	9	12	57
Stuttgart	34	15	10	9	10	55
Ligue 1
Marseille	37	22	9	6	31	75
Lille	37	21	7	9	33	70
Auxerre	37	19	11	7	12	68
Lyon	36	18	12	6	21	66
Montpellier	37	19	9	9	8	66
Bordeaux	37	19	7	11	19	64
Serie A
Internazionale	37	23	10	4	40	79
AS Roma	37	23	8	6	25	77
AC Milan	37	19	10	8	18	67
Sampdoria	37	18	10	9	7	64
Palermo	37	17	11	9	11	62
Napoli	37	15	14	8	8	59
La Liga
Barcelona	37	30	6	1	70	96
Real Madrid	37	31	2	4	67	95
Valencia	37	20	8	9	18	68
Sevilla FC	37	18	6	13	15	60
Mallorca	37	17	8	12	13	59
Getafe	37	16	7	14	7	55

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News and Views from Fri May 7

MLS

• Worst kept secret. Montreal is MLS' 19th team, begins play in 2012. If you are wondering why I'm a 'day late' on this, it's because I generally do not report on unconfirmed information.
• And a couple of takes on the new expansion move. Bill Archer. Jamie Trecker. 
• Weekend previews.
• More previews.

Interesting Reads

• America's other favorite team, Mexico.
• Soccer star to leave clinic after gunshot to head.

The Business of Soccer

• Liverpool goes from profit to loss.

Around the World

• USSF D2: A look ahead at week 5.
• England: Making the case against playoffs.
• Togo's ban from African Cup of Nations lifted.
• Harbour View wins Jamaican Premier League.
• Mexico and Ecuador draw at inaugural event at the new Meadowlands.

World Cup

• FIFA on squad lists for World Cup.
• Spots still open on US squad.

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After the Weekend Apr 24-25

MLS

• My weekly attendance report.
• There are plenty of reviews of the week's matches out there. You don't need me for that.
• Prospective DP's fear MLS salary cap doesn't allow for enough depth. 
• Former MLS'er Hérculez Gómez shares top scoring honors in Mexico.

Interesting Reads

• Thanks to Tom Dunmore(via Kenn Tomasch) for this from Simon Barnes on our need for good and bad.
• Nutmeg Radio: Soccer writing and how we select our World Cup team.
• Richard Whittall: Are academies necessary for success?
• Egan Richardson: Finnish football, foreigners, and youth development.
• Fans stepping up to pay Portmouth debts.
• Arizona SB 1070 and soccer.
• Richard Whittall:  Newspapers and Bloggers Must Overcome “Debt Story Fatigue”.

World Cup

• World Cup Blog: Love and Hate at the WC.
• Danish keeper Sorenson dislocates elbow.

Around the World

• Nutmeg Radio: The power of football in Northern Kenya.
• Panathinaikos wins Greek Cup.
• Benfica closing in on Portuguese title.
• Estudiantes move top in Argentine Clausura.
• Rangers win Scottish title.
• Rooney wins PFA player of the year.
• Updated USSF D2 standings.
• Mexican liguilla lineup set.

Title and Champions League Races in Europe

	GP	W	D	L	GD	Pts
EPL
Chelsea	36	25	5	6	61	80
Manchester Utd	36	25	4	7	53	79
Arsenal	36	22	6	8	39	72
Tottenham	35	19	7	9	26	64
Aston Villa	36	17	13	6	16	64
Manchester City	35	17	12	6	27	63
Bundesliga
Bayern Munich	32	18	10	4	37	64
Schalke 04	32	19	7	6	24	64
Werder Bremen	32	16	9	7	29	57
Bayer Leverkusen	32	15	12	5	27	57
Dortmund	32	16	8	8	14	56
Stuttgart	32	15	8	9	10	53
Ligue 1
Marseille	34	21	8	5	30	71
Auxerre	34	19	9	6	13	66
Lille	34	18	7	9	28	61
Montpellier	34	17	9	8	7	60
Lyon	33	16	11	6	19	59
Bordeaux	33	17	6	10	18	57
Serie A
Internazionale	35	21	10	4	37	73
AS Roma	35	21	8	6	23	71
AC Milan	35	18	10	7	18	64
Sampdoria	35	17	9	9	6	60
Palermo	35	16	10	9	10	58
Juventus	35	16	6	13	3	54
La Liga
Barcelona	34	27	6	1	63	87
Real Madrid	34	28	2	4	59	86
Valencia	34	18	8	8	16	62
Mallorca	34	16	8	10	15	56
Sevilla FC	34	16	6	12	10	54
Villareal	34	15	7	12	4	52

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After the Weekend Mar 20-21

Openers

No MLS strike. But you know that already. Hell, how could you not? It's great news and I'm eager to see the details.
I think we're looking at a terrific 2010 season. Lots of newcomers to watch for. Lindpere showed a flash with his goal against Santos and general midfield play. Alviro Saborio teaming up with Findley in RSL is something I'm eager to see. Can Ike Opara team up with Brandon McDonald and turn around the worst defense in the league at San Jose?
Then there are the question marks. Can two DP's that joined the league mid-season show that they're worth the DP tag? I'm talking about Landin in Houston and de Guzman in Toronto. Can the Wizards show some consistency with all of the changes on the roster? Will FC Dallas continue their strong form from last season, and will anybody show up at Pizza Hut Park to see it?
And then of course there's Philadelphia. Can they come close to matching Seattle's inaugural performance?
Grab your scarves, brewskis, twinkies and whatever else floats your boat, the fun starts this Thursday.
For you number freaks, as I did last season, I'll be posting attendance numbers and a few other things at MLS Talk each week.

And here are a few pieces I've been holding onto that I'll either archive or toss into digital oblivian.

• Foreign investment in MLS has nothing to do with collective bargaining.
• Mainstream media will have a field day with MLS strike.
• MLS, the Replacements.

MLS Preseason

• RBNY unveils Red Bull Arena in style, defeating Santos 3-1.
  
• TFC fall to RSL in final preseason match.
• Revs down Railhawks.
• DC United take Carolina Challenge Cup.
• Houston beats ChivasUSA in preseason finale.

Interesting Reads

• Howard Hamilton with updated CONCACAF club coefficients. No surprise that Mexican clubs dominate.
• How poorly organized defense in MLS made this EPL defender a better player.

Around the World

• Sydney FC wins A-League final.
• Mexican Clausura 2010.

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Title and Champions League Races in Europe

	GP	W	D	L	GD	Pts
EPL
Manchester Utd	31	22	3	6	47	69
Arsenal	31	21	4	6	40	67
Chelsea	30	20	5	5	42	65
Tottenham	30	16	7	7	26	55
Manchester City	29	14	11	4	18	53
Liverpool	31	15	6	10	18	51
Bundesliga
Bayern Munich	27	16	8	3	30	56
Schalke 04	27	16	7	4	22	55
Bayer Leverkusen	27	14	11	2	28	53
Dortmund	27	14	6	7	13	48
Werder Bremen	27	12	9	6	21	45
Hamburg SV	27	11	11	5	16	44
Ligue 1
Bordeaux	28	17	5	6	23	56
Montpellier	29	17	5	7	10	56
Auxerre	29	16	7	6	6	55
Marseille	28	15	8	5	20	53
Lille	29	15	6	8	21	51
Lyon	29	14	9	6	16	51
Serie A
Internazionale	29	17	9	3	28	60
AC Milan	29	17	8	4	21	59
AS Roma	29	16	8	5	18	56
Palermo	29	13	8	8	6	47
Sampdoria	29	13	8	8	2	47
Juventus	29	13	6	10	5	45
La Liga
Real Madrid	27	22	2	3	52	68
Barcelona	27	21	5	1	50	68
Valencia	27	14	8	5	15	50
Mallorca	27	14	4	9	13	46
Sevilla FC	27	13	5	9	8	44
Athletic Bilbao	27	12	6	9	4	42

News and Views from Monday Mar 15

Openers

• OK, even though I mentioned it in my last post, it feels like half of today's soccersphere is about David Beckham. So to repeat, Becks tore his achilles on Sunday, had surgery on Monday and will not return to the pitch until September(at the earliest).
• Several MLS players and MLS academy team players have been named to the USMNT U-20 team that will participate in the Dallas Cup. Additionally FC Dallas' Bryan Leyva will play for the U-18 Mexican Men's National Team as they prepare for the Mediterranean International Cup in April.
• I've touted Freddie Ljungberg's blog before, and here's another chance to give it a read. He comments on player freedom in this post.

MLS Preseason

• FC Dallas weekend results.
• A look at Toronto FC.

Player Moves

• Revs sign two draftees to developmental contracts.
• Chicago signs two draft picks.
• Wizards sign three midfielders, release keepers.

Around the World

• Mexico/North Korea friendly on Wednesday will be streamed live for free(legally).
• If you saw my last post, you already know that there are terrific races for league titles in all of the 'major' Euro leagues. Here is a look at Ligue 1.

Interesting Reads

• Richard Whittall on the internet and football.

After the Weekend Mar 13-14

MLS Preseason

• ChivasUSA/Galaxy play to 0-0 draw.
• RSL drops opener in Carolina Challenge Cup.
• TFC draw at the Carolina Challenge Cup.
• The entertaining Fullback Files with a DC United roster reset.
• Revs down USL-2 Charlotte.
• Union fall to FC Dallas.

Interesting Reads

• Have you read about former MLS'er Herculez Gomez and his adventure in the Mexican league?

The Business of Soccer

• Gary Andrews at Pitch Invasion continues the series on Fan ownership of football clubs.
• Howard Hamilton reports that the Caribbean federations are strapped for cash.
• The final post of the series on Fan ownership of football clubs.
• English soccer headed for salary caps?

Around the World

• Eredivisie round-up.
• Recap of Mexican League action.
• David Beckam's dream of playing in the 2010 World Cup is ended with a possible career ending injury. He ruptured his left Achilles' tendon in a match on Sunday. Awful news. I was watching the match when he pulled up lame and it was obvious that he was in serious distress.

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Title and Champions League Races in Europe

	GP	W	D	L	GD	Pts
EPL
Manchester Utd	30	21	3	6	46	66
Chelsea	29	20	4	5	42	64
Arsenal	30	20	4	6	38	64
Tottenham	29	15	7	7	25	52
Bundesliga
Bayern Munich	26	16	8	2	31	56
Schalke 04	26	16	6	4	22	54
Bayer Leverkusen	26	14	11	1	31	53
Dortmund	26	13	6	7	10	45
Ligue 1
Bordeaux	27	16	5	6	21	53
Montpellier	28	16	5	7	9	53
Auxerre	28	15	7	6	5	52
Lille	28	15	6	7	23	51
Serie A
Internazionale	28	17	8	3	28	59
AC Milan	28	17	7	4	21	58
AS Roma	28	15	8	5	16	53
Palermo	28	13	7	8	6	46
La Liga
Real Madrid	26	21	2	3	50	65
Barcelona	26	20	5	1	48	65
Valencia	26	13	8	4	13	47
Sevilla FC	26	13	5	8	10	44

The races in Germany and Italy have assumed a heightened importance as Italy is in danger of surrendering its fourth UEFA Champions League berth to Germany. The results of this year's UCL and Europa League will be the determining factor.

News and Views from Wednesday Feb 24

MLS Preseason

• FC Dallas take new approach to preseason.
• LA Update from Arizona.
• Revs academy update.
• Sounders reserves fall to FC Mitjtylland.
• ChivasUSA/Wizards scrimmage to 1-1 draw in Phoenix.
• Colorado loses to LA in Arizona.

MLS

• An interview with Jeff Parke, now in camp with the Seattle Sounders.
• An article on Damani Ralph, now in camp with RBNY.
• Adrian Hanauer has confirmed that Colombian striker Miguel Montaño will join Seattle after his paperwork is completed.

Club Tournaments

• The Europa League.
• Inter over Chelsea, CSKA Moscow and Sevilla draw in UCL. 
• Brasilian clubs win in Copa Libertadores.

Interesting Reads

• Foreign internationals playing the La Primera in Mexico.Howard Hamilton discusses his CONCACAF club and league coefficients.

The Business of Soccer

• EPL owes 56% of European football debt.
• FIFA sets new rules for the transfer market.
• Thanks to The Offside for providing a link to the UEFA Football Club Finance Report.

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US Women open Algarve Cup with 2-0 victory.

News and Views from Monday Feb 15

MLS Preseason 

• WVHooligan's look at the KC Wizards.
• DC United plays first preseason match.
• Steve Hunt on FCD's defense.
• RBNY heads to Florida.
• Keith Hickey on the Union's win over UNC.

Interesting Reads

• I'm a numbers person so, this this post on surrendering the first goal interested me.
• L.E. Eisenmenger on MLS referees, none of whom will be at the World Cup.
• Fake Sigi on the US Soccer Hall of Fame.

Club Tournaments

• Andy Brassell on the Portuguese clubs in the UEFA Champions League.
• EPL considering playoff for 4th UEFA Champions League slot.
• Tom Dunmore with the pros and cons of the EPL UCL proposition.
• The Guardian on the UEFA Champions League round of 16 schedule.

Leagues

• Argentina
• Mexico

The Business of Soccer

• More calls for financial regulations in the EPL.
• Celtic reveals financial downturn.
• Richard Whittall chimes in the financial woes in English football.

Player Moves

• KC Wizards complete signing of Danish keeper.

Soccer Bits, Player Moves, Tracking Your Team

Lower Division in the USA

• Wanna keep track of your favorite USSF D2 team? atlanticTFCfan has posted the Twitter and Facebook url's.
• OurSportsCentral's franchise report lays out the USL-2 and PDL landscape for 2011.

Young Yanks
The new USMNT U-17 residency class for the Bradenton Academy has been been selected.

For Your Viewing Pleasure
Johnathan Starling at Set Piece Analysts reports that mun2, an NBC Universal property, will broadcast Mexican First Division matches in English.

MLS Biz
Fake Sigi on the limitations of MLS's single entity structure.

More Post MLS SuperDraft Analysis
This time it comes from Ives.
And this one about the NE Revs defense.


MLS Pre-Season
RBNY will head to La Manga, Spain for two weeks from Wednesday, Jan. 20 to Feb. 4. After returning, the club will go to Florida to complete its pre-season.

Rumored Moves
Lee Nguyen is assessing the possibility of playing in MLS. Nguyen currently plays for Vietnamese team Hoàng Anh Gia La.
Reports from France has USMNT Defender Carlos Bocanegra moving from Renne to St. Etienne.
After Bolton passed, Ives is reporting that Dynamo midfielder Stuart Holden may be headed to Portugal to sign with 1st place Sporting Braga.

Confirmed Moves
DC United signs Aussie forward Danny Allsopp.

Good Reads
After a couple of good showings for Everton, Andrea Canales of Goal.com offers up her opinion on the likelihood that Landon Donovan's loan will be extended, or more.
Grant Wahl on his journey to cover the African Cup of Nations.

More Help for Haiti from the Soccer Community
Kaka, Zidane to Play in Game for Haiti Relief.
RBNY, SCF to benefit Haiti through RBA tours.