Here are the 15 stories we're talking about this morning:
1. GERRARD SET FOR CALIFORNIA CLASICO
A third California Clasico in as many weeks gets the weekend’s MLS action underway as the LA Galaxy host the San Jose Earthquakes on Friday (11 pm ET, UniMas in the US, MLS LIVE in Canada). English star Steven Gerrard will make his league debut for LA -- tune into UniMás's pregame show for an exclusive interview -- while the Quakes are looking for a goalscorer: "Someone has to decide they want to be the guy," Shea Salinas says.
2. LANDON ON THE GALAXY’S LATEST STARS
Meanwhile, one of the Galaxy's all-time greats, Landon Donovan, weighed in on the club's new additions.
3. GIOVINCO LOVING LIFE
The Philadelphia Union lost a midweek friendly against England's AFC Bournemouth, and they might have an equally tough time when they take on Toronto FC (Saturday, 4 pm ET, TSN in Canada, MLS LIVE in the US). Philly will try and contain Sebastian Giovinco, the Italian superstar who is loving the challenge of MLS and his life in Toronto.
4. NYCFC TRAVEL TO NE WITHOUT LAMPARD
The New England Revolution will host New York City FC this Saturday (7:30 pm ET, MLS LIVE), and they won't have to worry about Frank Lampard, who is still rehabbing his calf injury. The Revs paid tribute to the Englishman, while NYCFC's Claudio Reyna reiterated that Lampard and fellow newcomer Andrea Pirlo have joined the league to compete.
5. A THORN IN THE LIONS' PAW
Although both Harrison Heath and Brek Shea are set for extended injury layoffs, reinforcements have arrived just in time for Orlando City. Corey Ashe is expected to make Lions' debut as they host the New York Red Bulls (7:30 pm ET, MLS LIVE), a game with special significance to Red Bulls captain and Florida native Dax McCarty.
6. IMPACT WHEEL AND DEAL
It didn’t take long for the Montreal Impact to offload the unhappy Bakary Soumare, sending him to FC Dallas in exchange for Canadian international Kyle Bekker. Bekker should be available when the Impact visit Sporting Kansas City on Saturday (8:30 pm ET, MLS LIVE). In Kansas City, SKC defender Seth Sinovic took some lucky fans on a shopping spree.
7. SWAPPING FIREPOWER
FC Dallas exec Fernando Clavijo talked about the Soumare-Bekker trade. The Texans' new defender could be called upon straight away when Dallas host D.C. United on Saturday (9 pm ET, MLS LIVE), providing the foundation for FCD's dynamic attacking duo Fabian Castillo and Mauro Diaz.
8. SABO FOR SILVA
D.C. United and Real Salt Lake completed a trade on Thursday, sending Luis Silva to Real Salt Lake in exchange for striker Alvaro Saborio. While Sabo has struggled this year, RSL took the time to say thank you to their alltime leading goalscorer.
- SOUNDERS WON’T BE RUSHED
Erik Friberg is hoping his second spell with the Seattle Sounders will be even more fruitful than his first, and the club’s GM, Garth Lagerwey, is already been impressed. But, Lagerwey insists, the club won’t be rushed into signing anyone. On Saturday, the Sounders host the Colorado Rapids (10 pm ET, MLS LIVE), who are coming off a big win and getting more and more from midfielder Sam Cronin.
10. CUBO ARRIVES IN HOUSTON
The Houston Dynamo travel to Real Salt Lake on Saturday (10 pm ET, MLS LIVE), and DP forward Erick "Cubo" Torres will be with the club. He most likely won't play, but the club is "extremely excited" to have him here. Meanwhile, this is the first game for RSL without Saborio as technical director Craig Waibel begins to execute his "long-term plan."
11. NEW TIMBERS DP?
The Portland Timbers host the Vancouver Whitecaps (Saturday, 10 pm ET, MLS LIVE), amid reports suggesting they have added a young Argentine playmaker. The Whitecaps, meanwhile, may look to returning forward Robert Earnshaw to help them score more goals, while suspensions and international call-ups test their depth at center back.
12. CREW SC VS. FIRE AGAIN
Having earned their first road win of the season with a 1-0 midweek victory over the Chicago Fire, Columbus Crew SC return home to face the same Fire side for the second time in five days (Sunday, 5 pm ET, ESPN2 in the US, MLS LIVE in Canada). The pressure is mounting for the Fire, with Mike Magee coming to the defense of head coach Frank Yallop after their latest defeat.
13.
BEASLEY ROLLS BACK THE YEARS
The US national team will face Cuba on Saturday (5 pm ET, FOX) in the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup. Houston Dynamo left back DaMarcus Beasley is back with the USMNT and says he's feeling rejuvenated. If they win, the Yanks will face the winner of the Jamaica-Haiti game (8 pm ET, FOX Sports 2). The Reggae Boyz will be without the Portland Timbers' Alvas Powell.
14. PLENTY TO WORK FOR EL TRI
Mexico face Costa Rica in their Gold Cup quarterfinal (Sunday, 7:30 pm ET, FOX Sports 1). Although El Tri haven’t made any changes to their squad for this stage, there are still plenty of issues to fix, with possibly more bad news than good at this stage. Meanwhile, the Ticos have added Whitecaps defender Kendall Waston to their roster. The winner of the game will take on either Panama or Trinidad and Tobago (4:30 pm ET, FOX Sports 1).
15. MLS CBA RATIFIED
The MLS Players Union officially ratified the Collective Bargaining Agreement settled upon earlier this year.
MLSsoccer.com Musts
Legacy of ’91: How the US won the first-ever Gold Cup
ExtraTime Radio: All-Star snubs? Pablo Mastroeni talks roster selection
1v1 with Kaká, Part 1: On MLS Parity and life in central Florida
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