Here are the top 15 stories everyone's talking about this morning:
1. PRESEASON PREPARATIONS
MLS preseason action continues this week as the Chicago Fire earned a 0-0 draw against Norwich City in the first game of their trip to England, with Frank Yallop providing an update on where his team stands. The New York Red Bulls, meanwhile, came out 2-0 winners over Toronto FC before falling 4-1 to the Jacksonville Armada immediately afterwards. The game against Toronto saw Sacha Kljestan score his first goal for the club, and the new RBNY signing is eager to make his mark.
2. STAYING ON MESSAGE
The US national team take on Panama in the second and final match of their winter training camp on Sunday (4 pm ET, ESPN, UniMas). Amid the controversy surrounding his recent comments, head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has reiterated for a third time his views on the team’s fitness, while also discussing the possible future of the January camp.
3. GOOD PREPARATION
While the current US camp may be providing plenty of talking points, it could also serve to benefit the US national team’s Olympic hopes, as a number of potential players for that U-23 side look to make their mark with the senior squad.
- ORLANDO HAVE HIGH HOPES FOR DEBUT GAME
While Orlando City launched their ambitious #FillTheBowl campaign with the aim of attracting 65,000 fans to their first MLS match, the club is also still in search of a new center back after failing to come to terms with Brazilian defender Paulo Andre.
5. HERO’S WELCOME
As Toronto FC get set to officially unveil Sebastian Giovinco to the media today at 11 am ET (live stream available via TorontoFC.ca), hundreds of fans showed up at Toronto Pearson International airport on Thursday to welcome their newest Designated Player.
6. UNION SEARCHING FOR A STRIKER
The Philadelphia Union have confirmed that they were indeed interested in signing forward Andy Delort and although a deal couldn’t be worked out for the French striker, the club is still on the hunt for a new forward.
7. NO TO BEN ARFA
Despite rumors earlier on Thursday linking clubless French player Hatem Ben Arfa with a move to New York City FC, the new MLS side have moved to vehemently deny the midfielder was ever in their plans and that no meeting has taken place.
8. AKINDELE TARGETS STRONG SECOND SEASON
As Tesho Akindele looks to build on his Rookie of the Year award-winning season, his teammate Brian "Cobi" Span got some bad news, as FC Dallas chose to waive the midfielder on Thursday.
9. UNITED JR?
D.C. United officially extended their USL PRO affiliation with the Richmond Kickers for another season on Thursday. But is there any truth to the rumors linking the MLS side with a season-long loan for local product and Borussia Dortmund prospect Junior Flores?
- LOOKING TO LAMAR
Lamar Neagle was one of the biggest unsung heroes of last year’s Supporters' Shield-winning Seattle Sounders side. And it looks like the Federal Way, Washington native will be called on for more of the same in 2015.
11. WHITECAPS FIND THEIR FORWARD
Robert Earnshaw is currently on trial with the Vancouver Whitecaps as the Welshman looks to earn a contract with a third MLS side. But while head coach Carl Robinson looks to add depth across the board, might the team have already found the striker they’ve been desperately searching for?
12. IMPACT FACE A FIGHT
The Montreal Impact have just signed goalkeeper Kristian Nicht on loan from NASL side Indy Eleven for one month, though it seems the Canadian side may have some work on its hands when it comes to recent acquisition Ambroise Oyongo.
13. THE CANADIAN CUP
Hot on the heel of U.S. Soccer's US Open Cup announcement, the Canadian Soccer Association has released details of this year’s Amway Canadian Championship, with the 2015 edition of the tournament once again following the same five-team format as last season.
- GHANA ADVANCE AMID CHAOS
While Chicago Fire DP David Accam didn’t play a part as his Ghana side advanced to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations, their 3-0 win over Equatorial Guinea was marred by some horrendous scenes in which both the players and the fans were attacked by host spectators.
15. COMPARE, THEN CRY
Want to know everything there ever was to know about Cristiano Ronaldo? Well now you can, as a university in Canada is apparently running a course on that very subject. However, if you want to do something depressing, click here and see how your wages compare to that of the top international soccer star.
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