Here are the top 15 stories everyone's talking about this morning:
1. LA SHOW OFF THEIR STYLE
LAFC have unveiled their new colors and their club’s impressive new crest, one which they say is representative of Los Angeles. That wasn’t the only news to come out of the expansion team’s event yesterday, as the club also announced that actor and comedian Will Ferrell is a new part-owner of the MLS expansion side.
2. SCHEDULE IT IN
Looking to make your plans for the upcoming season? Good news then, as the 2016 MLS schedule dropped on Thursday along with details of all the nationally televised games. Rivalry Week also returns with two 2016 editions. Now that it’s out, who has the toughest/easiest fixture and what are the 10 must-watch games?
3. DAVIS DEPARTS DYNAMO
The Houston Dynamo and Sporting Kansas City have completed an interesting trade, with the Texan team trading Brad Davis to their Western Conference rivals in exchange for two draft picks and future considerations. The former Dynamo captain seems to be embracing the switch to a locale much closer to his hometown of St. Louis, though, and wrote a passionate farewell to the team in orange.
4. PINEDA RETIRES
Seattle Sounders midfielder and former Mexican international Gonzalo Pineda has announced his retirement from soccer at the age of 33. Pineda said: “I always wanted to retire in a good moment in my career." He is now considering a career in coaching.
5. GA CLASS, A SENIOR SIGNING AND A NEW HOMEGROWN
Major League Soccer confirmed the signing of five players to the 2016 Generation adidas class, including top SuperDraft target Josh Yaro and former New York City FC target Jack Harrison. The league has also signed Stanford senior defender Brandon Vincent as well. Meanwhile, the University of Denver’s Jordan Schweitzer recently dropped out of the MLS Combine and now we know why: The Washington state native has signed a Homegrown Player contract with the Seattle Sounders.
6. SAN JOSE RE-SIGN TWO
The San Jose Earthquakes have re-signed two players who could form an important part of their plans for this season, with Quincy Amarikwa and Jordan Stewart both agreeing to new deals.What might the future hold for the Quakes, in regards to both their youth academy and Avaya Stadium?
7. WAIBEL WEIGHS IN ON RUMORS
Real Salt Lake have agreed to new deals with Demar Phillips and Phanuel Kavita after originally declining the options on the two players. That takes RSL’s roster to 24 players, but who else might the club pursue and what does general manager Craig Waibel make of the rumors about striker Sebastian Jaime?
8. REVS SIGNINGS AHEAD, GALAXY LINKED WITH ANOTHER ENGLISHMAN
Are new signings on the way for the New England Revolution? While the club has secured the services of some existing players for the foreseeable future, club president Brian Biello also says the club will be looking to add some new players as well. Meanwhile on the other side of the country, the latest rumors link the LA Galaxy with moves for Joleon Lescott and Nigel de Jong.
9. TRAPP LOOKING FOR IMPROVED 2016
Last year was an interesting one for Columbus Crew SC star Will Trapp, who missed three months with a concussion but recovered to help his side reach the MLS Cup final. There was also an as-yet-unsuccessful Olympic qualifying campaign, but Trapp is looking to turn lessons from last year into an improved 2016.
10. UNION SET TO SIGN RESTREPO?
It’s looking almost certain that the Philadelphia Union are going to sign Walter Restrepo from the New York Cosmos, with the latest stories suggesting that the MLS side will be sending a player on loan to the lower division side as part of the deal.
11. BINGHAM TO JOIN US CAMP
Could another goalkeeper be on his way to the US national team’s January camp? That's what some reports said on Thursday, but it’s not USMNT veteran Nick Rimando – instead, it seems it's the San Jose Earthquakes' David Bingham heading to LA to join Jurgen Klinsmann’s squad.
12. LOUISVILLE EYES MLS
Could Louisville City help bring MLS to Kentucky? The USL side are continuing to build on the momentum generated in their first year of play, announcing that they will be conducting a study into the feasibility of building a new stadium, possibly with an eye toward eventually landing an MLS franchise.
13. NEW RULES, FEWER TEAMS, FOR US OPEN CUP
It had been rumored a while, but on Thursday, the US Soccer Federation made it official, announcing new rules which bar any teams owned and operated by clubs competing at a higher level in US Soccer from competing in the US Open Cup. So no "B" or "2" teams will enter the tournament this year, and there will be no magical Open Cup return for Bethlehem Steel, the iconic Pennsylvania club brought back to life by the Philadelphia Union.
14. SAN ANTONIO NAME THEIR COACH
While there was no news on a name, crest or team colors, which are expected soon, San Antonio’s new USL side officially named former Orlando City academy coach Darren Powell as the head coach of the new team.
15. EVERY LITTLE THING YOU DO IS MAGIC
No need to pinch yourselves, Portland Timbers fans: The club released a 30-minute documentary, "The Magic Was Real", which charts their incredible MLS Cup run. You can download and keep it for free.
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