Exciting news for Houston Dynamo fans this morning: Manager Dominic Kinnear is really excited about signing a young Brazilian midfielder and he wouldn’t even have to use a DP slot on him.
In the first media session of the season for the LA Galaxy, Landon Donovan says he’s “antsy” to get going again after what he called his first real break. He also commented on the fact that David Beckham will be joining training camp more than two weeks after everyone else.
That’s no drama at all when compared to what’s taking place in Toronto, where Dwayne De Rosario has threatened a training camp holdout if he cannot secure the contract he wants. But TFC owners Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) say they are not budging.
The Toronto media are not necessarily sympathetic to the De Rosario cause.
Staying in Canada, the Vancouver Whitecaps still don’t know how many games they’ll be able to play at BC Place in 2011. Although they thought about back-loading the schedule with home dates, they decided against it. By the way, it won’t be called BC Place for much longer.
The Whitecaps will get a taste of a sold out soccer stadium when they visit the Philadelphia Union at PPL Park, where virtually every ticket has been gobbled up for the March 26 Union home opener.
In other stadium news, one Kansas City columnist suggests that Sporting KC’s new stadium should figure a way to honor the late Lamar Hunt.
Forward Jeff Cunningham is still in Crew camp although he won’t practice with the team without a contract. He does say that he wants to end his career in Columbus and break the MLS scoring record in Crew gold.
Former Crew right back Frankie Hejduk can’t believe his good fortune at joining the LA Galaxy. He says he expects nothing less than an MLS Cup title in 2011.
One player who did train with his club for the first time was Salvadoran-American Arturo Alvarez. Real Salt Lake GM Garth Lagerwey called him “outstanding.”
Real Salt Lake are currently training at their second home in Casa Grande, Ariz., and the club is taking advantage of visiting its academy base and offering eight academy players the opportunity to try out for the first team.
Jan Gunnar Solli is happy to be with the Red Bulls. Not only can he become their most versatile player on the field but he can network and spin records in his down time in NYC. Watch him do his thing in two video clips. (VIDEO)
Doing their thing in New York are the Cosmos, who are reportedly putting pen to paper on the signing of a Ghanaian player who is now out of contract at Vitesse in Holland.
Rumored Red Bulls target, Honduran Mauricio Sabillón, says he will play with his club team in Honduras this weekend and see what comes of negotiations next week. (SPANISH)
What? Someone from Seattle speaking nicely about their counterpart from Portland? Sounders fans will excuse Steve Zakuani for speaking highly of former Akron teammate and Timber player Darlington Nagbe. Zakuani says that Nagbe is unstoppable and even forced him out of school early.
Zakuani is not too bad himself. Watch this goal from practice shot in Super Slo Mo. (VIDEO)
They’re not taking it slow in Atlanta. They want an MLS club and they want it yesterday. To leave an impression, organizers of a preseason MLS tournament want to sell at least 6,000 tickets.
For the LA Galaxy’s Bryan Jordan, slow is not an option. He’s participating in the annual Millrose Games in an event in which he’ll race against NFL, MLB and NBA stars.
In Philadelphia, the Union refuse to reveal the identity of their trialists but that has not prevented some intrepid reporters from working on unmasking the mystery men.
There’s a new name to follow in the weekly Yanks Abroad round-ups: a German-American player who has broken through in the Bundesliga with Nürnberg.
The USA also has made another goalkeeping export: Diego Restrepo is joining Colombia’s América de Cali.
Speaking of goalkeepers, Manchester United will be in the market for a new No. 1 after Edwin van der Sar confirmed his retirement at the end of the season. Maybe an opening for Brad Guzan?
It’s a whole other world in Europe. When have you heard of a manager getting a cut on player transfers? No wonder Blackpool’s coach has been lobbying for a higher price tag on one of his players.
No news yet on the Michael Bradley front as rumors continue to swirl of a move away from Borussia Mönchengladbach. In the meantime, 'Gladbach’s manager explains why the American has not started matches of late.
Although he’s been part of the US youth national team system, Toronto FC draftee Demetrius Omphroy is eligible to play for Panama and also trained with their youth national side. (SPANISH)
Meanwhile, former ESPN and Fox Soccer Channel broadcaster Andy Gray is fighting back after being fired by Sky for comments he made off camera.
As if the Gray & Keys sideshow hasn’t given the English tabloids enough fodder, they’re all abuzz with the news that Real Madrid manager José Mourinho may very well return to the EPL next year.
The last Coppa Italia quarterfinal will take place today between two giants, Juventus vs. Roma (2:45 p.m. ET, GolTV). Catch Chile vs. Venezuela from the South American Under-20 championship (6 p.m. ET, ESPN Deportes) for a glimpse at Venezuelan starlet Yohandry Orozco. The diehards also get a double dose of Copa Libertadores preliminary action on Fox Deportes (6 p.m. ET and 8 p.m. ET).
In the last two questions of this one-on-one interview with SI.com, FC Barcelona’s Gerard Piqué tells the story of how scared he was of Roy Keane at Manchester United and how he made Cesc Fàbregas drink liquid potatoes.
MLSsoccer.com Must-Reads:
Revolution set to offer contracts to international players
US Under-20 star finally breaks into first squad at his German club
Seattle’s French defender may walk away from Sounders
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