Here are the top 15 stories everyone's talking about this morning:
1. MLS ANNOUNCEMENT
MLS Commissioner Don Garber will be in Denver, Colorado today for a special announcement that will be streamed live on MLSsoccer.com at 3:30 pm ET (WATCH IT HERE). The event takes place at Denver Union Station and will feature representatives from the Colorado Rapids and other local officials.
2. SUPERDRAFT IN THE BOOKS
With Rounds 3 and 4 done and dusted on Tuesday, the 2015 SuperDraft is now complete. Not a single team passed in Tuesday's second phase, meaning that a total of 84 players were selected this year. You can find the complete list of who went where, right here.
3. A DRAW WILL DO
The US Under-20 national team takes on Trinidad and Tobago today (5:30 pm ET, Fox Sports 2) in their final group game of the CONCACAF Championship. A draw will be enough to secure them a slot in a playoff for a ticket to the U-20 World Cup. Can the blossoming defensive partnership of Matt Miazga and Cameron Carter-Vickers help get them over the line?
- NATIONAL TEAM QUESTIONS
As Jurgen Klinsmann and the US prepare for another big year, there’s some confusion over in Germany about Fabian Johnson’s best position, Robbie Rogers (at right) remains unsure as to whether or not he has an international future and DaMarcus Beasley has explained why it was time to call it a day on the international level.
5. BIRNBAUM RISING
After being selected with the No.2 pick in the 2014 SuperDraft, Steve Birnbaum notes that “I couldn’t have asked for a better situation in D.C.” And after becoming a regular starter for United and a finalist for MLS Rookie of the Year, Birnbaum is hoping to continue that ascent with the USMNT.
6. ALTIDORE’S NEW BEGINNING
While Jozy Altidore may have some regrets about how his time at Sunderland played out, now that he’s completed his move back to MLS, the US international is looking forward to a fresh start with Toronto FC and a busy year with the US national team.
7. SOUNDERS SELECTIONS
The Seattle Sounders appear to have made one of the strongest selections in the second phase of the SuperDraft after picking Andy Craven, a finalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy, with the 48th overall pick. And while it seems that Tyler Miller has gotten away, the goalkeeper isn’t ruling out playing for the Sounders one day.
8. BYE, BYE BIELER
Sporting Kansas City have parted ways with Designated Player Claudio Bieler. The Argentine striker looks set to head home now after failing to command a starting role with SKC. But head coach Peter Vermes insists “It’s not that [Bieler] is a bad player, it’s just that Dom [Dwyer] came on strong and he’s our center forward.”
9. BYE, BYE BEKKER?
Toronto FC are apparently continuing their offseason overhaul with reports that
Kyle Bekker (at right) is being traded to FC Dallas in exchange for allocation money
. There’s also more news about TFC’s USL PRO side,
which looks set to be called Toronto FC II
.
10. IS CAMEROON’S HERO HEADING NORTH?
Ambroise Oyongo played the hero on Tuesday, with his late equalizing goal saving Cameroon from an opening loss in the African Cup of Nations. However, it seems Oyongo could be on the move at the club level, as the Montreal Impact reportedly want the player, with the New York Red Bulls keen on an Impact midfielder.
11. RED BULLS ADD SOME FIRE
The New York Red Bulls are clearly still busy making changes for the upcoming season. Goalkeeper Kyle Reynish has arrived from the Chicago Fire and RBNY are also said to be close to a deal for a Brooklyn-born player who played for Chivas USA.
12. BECKERMAN’S TAKE
If there’s a perfect person to discuss all the changes at Real Salt Lake this winter, it’s Kyle Beckerman. In a lengthy interview with the Salt Lake Tribune, the RSL captain talks about, among other things, how it felt losing a raft of veteran players, what it means for the future of the club and how the new-look team needs to start this season.
- BUILDING AROUND KAKA
It’s not long now until Orlando City begin their first season in MLS. While head coach Adrian Heath concedes “it was a bit of a pipe dream seven years ago,” now that the moment’s almost here the Englishman has spoken about the process of building a team and working with Kaka.
14. ADDING DEPTH
There were some other important, albeit low-key, moves made on Tuesday as the LA Galaxy officially re-signed versatile defender Dan Gargan and the Houston Dynamo came to terms with Re-Entry Draft selection Nathan Sturgis.
15. THE FIRST AMERICAN EXPORT
The number of Americans plying their trade in England is starting to shrink. While Seattle Sounders product DeAndre Yedlin is the latest to head over and try his hand in the Old World, who was the first to make that journey?
MLSsoccer.com Musts
Did Donald Duck help convince Kaka to join Orlando City SC?
ExtraTime Radio: What’s next for Bobby Wood?
Is there a split in the size of Homegrown players vs drafted players?
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