Here are the top 15 stories everyone's talking about this morning:
1. DONOVAN ADDS TO RAPIDS' WOES
The Colorado Rapids' injury problems in defense shouldn’t make this too hard, but still Pablo Mastroeni was struggling to understand how his team gave up a 3-1 lead against the LA Galaxy to wind up losing 4-3 (watch highlights here). Could it be because of Bruce Arena’s halftime team talk?
2. SAN JOSE KIDS KEEP SEATTLE IN SLUMP
Seattle Sounders manager Sigi Schmid definitely felt as though his side gave up two points as San Jose Earthquakes Homegrown Player Tommy Thompson, making his first MLS start, helped lead a youthful side to a 1-1 draw at CenturyLink Field (watch highlights here). The Sounders now have one win in their last five.
3. UNITED RESERVES DO JUST ENOUGH IN CCL OPENER
D.C. United head coach Ben Olsen’s decision to field a team made up largely of reserve players may have been a risky move in the club’s opening CONCACAF Champions League game against Jamaican club Waterhouse, but it paid off, as an Eddie Johnson goal in the first five minutes proved to be enough to secure a 1-0 win (watch highlights here). Olsen said he would have liked "another goal or two" to boost the club's hopes in the tournament, but he still came away satisfied with the win.
4. DI VAIO TO THE RESCUE ONCE AGAIN
Much like their last Champions League encounter against Salvadoran club FAS, the Montreal Impact finished the game with 10 men. This time, having given up a two-goal lead, Marco Di Vaio was on hand to help secure a 3-2 Montreal win (watch highlights here). With six points in the group and MLS rival New York Red Bulls yet to play, Di Vaio knows his side is in a strong position.
5. JONES SAGA CONTINUES
So where is Jermaine Jones heading? One report on Wednesday night claimed that the USMNT midfielder signed with MLS, while another said the deal had hit one more snag. And Jones himself chimed in to say the deal is not done. This story is far from over.
6. RED BULLS NOT FOR SALE
The New York Red Bulls still have some difficult decisions to make ahead of their busy schedule over the next week, but one thing that does not seem to be up in the air is the owner’s commitment to the club, with the team’s commercial director reaffirming, “This team is not for sale, and it’s not going to be for sale.”
7. TWO BITES OF THE BIG APPLE
Connor Lade was loaned to the New York Cosmos a couple weeks back and, while still on loan, the midfielder is back with the New York Red Bulls as he recovers from a dislocated shoulder. With the Red Bulls' busy schedule and the unique nature of MLS loans, could Lade actually end up switching back and forth between New York clubs on a regular basis?
8. BREAKING BREAD
The Philadelphia Union had some more good news to share on Wednesday with the announcement that they have renewed their shirt sponsorship deal with Bimbo in a five-year agreement reported to be worth more than $11 million.
9. THE CITY BLUEPRINT
With New York City FC less than seven months away from their MLS debut, Jason Kreis is feeling pretty good about his team’s prospects. The club’s first-ever coach also delves into the role youth will play at the club and how close the relationship with Manchester City might develop.
10. HOME DEVELOPMENT
However, while the roster may be coming together for New York City FC, the quest for a home stadium is still ongoing. Fellow expansion club Orlando City are farther along in the stadium process, working through the challenges that come with the stadium site moving one block over.
11. ATLANTA RAISES THE BAR
Still more than two years away from kicking a ball, one new team that does not have any stadium questions is MLS’ future Atlanta club. In fact, they seem well ahead of the curve, with owner Arthur Blank revealing on Wednesday that the club has already taken 14,000 season ticket deposits.
12. ADD GARCIA TO THE LIST
With their team already hit hard by injuries, the San Jose Earthquakes revealed another name on the infirmary list Wednesday with the news that recent Designated Player signing Matías Pérez García will be out for 4-6 weeks following surgery on his right knee due to an injury he sustained in their heavy defeat to FC Dallas.
13. WHERE HAVE ALL THE HARD HATS GONE?
Get ready to say goodbye to the Columbus Crew you’ve come to know as, in a move similar to the San Jose Earthquakes' recent changes, the team from Ohio will be announcing a new logo and rebrand on October 8.
14. CHANGE IN TORONTO
While some teams are updating their look, in Toronto they're getting set for a switch in the front office after TFC owners MLSE confirmed on Thursday that Tim Leiweke will be departing the company by June 2015.
15. NO DIVING!
It was a quiet week for the MLS Disciplinary Committee, with the only punishment handed out being a fine for Andrés Escobar over embellishment in FC Dallas’ 5-0 win at the weekend. Will CONCACAF entertain similar sanctions for the time-wasting that happened in this Champions League match?
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