Here are the top 15 stories everyone's talking about this morning:
1. KEANE EYEING NEW CONTRACT
With Robbie Keane having already opened his goalscoring account for 2015, the reigning MLS MVP has revealed that he is currently negotiating a new contract with the LA Galaxy, one which, in his own words, will keep him there “for a few more years.”
2. EXPANDED VISION
Following the impressive crowd for their home debut, it seems that Orlando City have won over some new fans after announcing that they’re expanding their seating capacity for their next home game, against the Vancouver Whitecaps, to 23,000. Could the capacity for Orlando City games at the Citrus Bowl continue to grow, and will it impact the club's new stadium?
3. KASPER’S NEW DEAL
D.C. United’s long-serving general manager, Dave Kasper, looks set to stay with the club a while longer after agreeing to a new contract with the side. Having overseen United’s turn from worst to first in 2014, Kasper has also been rewarded with a new title, being named the club’s Vice President of Soccer Operations.
4. MAPP OUT OF ACTION
The Montreal Impact’s Champions League chances were affected Tuesday following the news that Justin Mapp is set to undergo surgery on his dislocated and fractured elbow, ruling him out for approximately four months.
5. MANNEH ON THE MIND
Despite an opening-game loss on Saturday, Kekuta Manneh’s performance gave the Vancouver Whitecaps reasons to be optimistic this season. When it comes to Pedro Morales, are teams better aware of how to deal with the Chilean since he's no longer an unknown quantity?
6. MERAM READY TO RETURN
Having picked up a red card during last season's playoffs, Justin Meram had to watch Columbus Crew SC’s 1-0 loss to the Houston Dynamo from home. With his suspension served, though, will the Iraqi international force his way back into the starting lineup for the home opener against Toronto FC this weekend?
7. BOOST AT THE BACK
While Ike Opara’s 2014 season was disrupted by injuries, the center back impressed in a big way during Sporting Kansas City’s 1-1 draw with the New York Red Bulls. He wasn’t the only one either, as Amadou Dia’s performance has him in contention for another starting role this weekend.
8. IT’S GONNA TAKE TIME
While Real Salt Lake head coach Jeff Cassar is preaching patience when it comes to his team’s new formation after a positive defensive performance against the Portland Timbers, Cassar is now looking for more from his attacking players when they take on the Philadelphia Union.
9. REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL
Although David Accam did not play in the Chicago Fire’s season-opening loss to the LA Galaxy, the Ghanaian Designated Player is hoping he can help give the Fire fans something to cheer this weekend in their home opener against the Vancouver Whitecaps.
10. CHANGE THE FORMAT
With an MLS team yet to win the CONCACAF Champions League in its current format, North American teams have an obvious interest in switching to a spring-fall format, but Goal.com's Jon Arnold writes that there is also an argument that the whole region would benefit.
11. CONCACAF CALL-UPS
Jaime Penedo and Blas Pérez look set to miss a bit of time with their MLS clubs and with the Panama national team coming to the US for two games this month, both have been named to the roster. Panama face Mexico in one of those games and El Tri boss Miguel Herrera insists no players have been ruled out of his summer plans.
12. TOTTENHAM’S OTHER AMERICAN
US U-20 international Cameron Carter-Vickers had the unenviable task of containing Radamel Falcao in the Tottenham Hotspurs Under-21s' 1-1 draw with the Manchester United U-21s on Tuesday, and by all accounts he did a great job. While DeAndre Yedlin did not play in that contest, don’t believe the latest story regarding the former Seattle Sounders star.
13. WOMEN'S WEDNESDAY
Wednesday features several notable matchups as national teams prepare for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, to be held this summer in Canada. The most notable match is the final of the Algarve Cup (12 noon ET, FOX Sports 1), with the US getting the chance for revenge on emerging power France, which beat the US on home soil in February. In the Cyprus Cup, Canada will play in the final against England at 12:30 pm ET.
14. QUALIFICATION ON THE LINE FOR USA
The Canadian Under-17s remain undefeated in the CONCACAF U-17 Championship, beating St. Lucia 3-1 on Monday and, in doing so, securing at least a playoff spot for a place in this year's FIFA U-17 World Cup. The US U-17s take the field on Wednesday against Jamaica (7pm ET, FOX Sports 2, Univison Deportes) and have a chance to qualify directly with a result.
15. THE BIRDS AND THE BEES
By now many of you will have seen THAT picture of Jozy Altidore celebrating his second goal against the Vancouver Whitecaps. Altidore certainly has, but the Toronto FC Designated Player sees the funny side of it.
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