Kick Off: TFC host Mexicans, owner calls out players
Toronto FC midfielder Julian de Guzman calls Tuesday's Champions League foes the Real Madrid of the region
Toronto FC will open the hostilities in CONCACAF Champions League group play for MLS clubs as they welcome Mexicans Cruz Azul at BMO Field, where TFC are undefeated (8 p.m. ET, Fox Soccer Channel).
According to midfielder Julian de Guzman, it will be like facing Real Madrid … the Real Madrid of CONCACAF.
With several Toronto FC players out injured for the match against los Cementeros, the focus turns to technical director Mo Johnston and what he will do on the player acquisition front. He lost the race to sign one World Cup left back after the latter signed with a European club.
Seattle Sounders GM Adrian Hanauer talks about how MLS should introduce new initiatives to support the clubs participating in the CONCACAF Champions League.
Hanauer and the Sounders believe in it so much that the squad will be flying charter to Honduras today for its opening group match this week. The good news for Sounders fans is that Fredy Montero will be on that flight.
Real Salt Lake are in a pickle as they enter their home match against Panamanians Árabe Unido. They have not been able to get their hands on a single video of their upcoming Champions League opponents.
He is no "Tom Cruise of soccer," but in San Jose they are celebrating the arrival of Brazilian Geovanni, a playmaker the likes of which the Earthquakes have never seen, according to manager Frank Yallop. The injured Andre Luiz even made himself useful during his downtime due to injury and helped make the deal happen.
The Colorado Rapids were looking close to home for their newest signing. They believe a local product of the club’s Academy has what it takes to be a future star.
A former South American Designated Player, the Crew’s Guillermo Barros Schelotto, gives his opinion on who the next Argentine national team coach should be and he also talks about where he wants to coach in the future.
Current Argentine superstar Lionel Messi is criticized by one of his World Cup compatriots for lacking the leadership skills that his boss in South Africa had.
It’s a story you would expect out of a South American country. A team president calling out players one by one, including mentioning the naming of the captain as a mistake. But it’s happening at future MLS expansion club Montreal Impact.
Another future Canadian MLS team, the Vancouver Whitecaps, are set to make their decision on which players they will seek to acquire ahead of their 2011 debut. That deadline day is next Monday and they want to make it count.
One player who will be available for selection come January's SuperDraft is the brother of US National Team midfielder Alejandro Bedoya. He recently concluded a trial at Alejandro's Swedish club but is undecided between MLS and Europe.
Montreal and Vancouver currently play in the US Soccer Federation Division 2. The USSF has issued the standards by which any group wishing to operate as a D2 soccer league must abide by.
Back in MLS, the New York Red Bulls said they were pursuing a midfielder before the close of the transfer window on Aug. 15. One site reveals the name of that player.
One acquisition from earlier this season, superstar Thierry Henry, reportedly ranks second when it comes to the highest-paid soccer players in the USA.
New York Red Bulls target Luke Rodgers has finally landed the visa he had so many problems trying to secure to move to MLS.
Paperwork can scupper deals. But not in Columbus. The newest acquisition by the Columbus Crew, and yet to be officially announced, is that of Peruvian forward Andrés Mendoza. There seems to be a reason behind this delay.
It is evident from the new stadium, which some say will top Red Bull Arena, that the owners of the Kansas City Wizards are ambitious. This ambition could extend into WPS, Women’s Professional Soccer.
One writer says he believes the MLS preseason will likely be shortened by most clubs after the experience of Real Salt Lake this season.
FC Dallas central defender George John is having a breakout season and as fans learn more about him, they’ll be curious to know he’s a member of the Sons of Pericles and is now an Ahepan.
A secret that Chicago Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson probably didn’t want out there: Not too long ago, he couldn’t squat 50 pounds in the weight room.
Speaking of interesting tidbits, few knew that baseball legend Branch Rickey felt that his sport would one day be surpassed by … you guessed it, soccer.
Rickey may not have been far off – the Boston Red Sox use the World Cup as one excuse their business metrics are down a bit this year.
On the international front, a decision will be made this week on whether Brazilian Neymar will join English club Chelsea.
As rumors of a potential move by US manager Bob Bradley to Europe have quieted, talks between Bradley and the US Soccer Federation are set to resume next week.
In UEFA Champions League action on the tube today: Dynamo Kiev vs. Ajax (2:30 p.m. ET, Fox Soccer Channel), BSC Young Boys vs. Tottenham (2:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports en Español; replay at 5 p.m. ET, Fox Soccer Channel) and FC Zenit St. Petersburg vs. AJ Auxerre (11:30 p.m. ET, Fox Soccer Channel).
Lastly, CNBC’s Darren Rovell may not be a soccer fan but he is hooked by a soccer economics story coming out of England.
