Posted By Don Ruiz on November 20, 2009 at 3:21 pm Share this

Landon Donovan, left, and David Beckham met the press this afternoon after the Galaxy training at Qwest Field.

The pair drew probably four times the media crowd that the RSL press conference had drawn a couple of hours earlier.

If they broke any news, I missed it. Beckham said he'll go to Milan after the season, hopes to play with England through the 2010 World Cup, and then return to the Galaxy. He said he thinks he might have as many as four more years left as a player, and he said he is considering buying an MLS franchise when his career is done.

Donovan said he'll consider his career plans at the end of the season.

They were unfailingly complimentary to each other.

"Life is about choices," Donovan said. "(Beckham) could have come in and chosen to be something different than he has been. He chose to be an man and (wanted) this team to be successful. Without him, we're not where we are."

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Posted By Don Ruiz on November 20, 2009 at 12:39 pm Share this

MLS Cup 2009 has a storyline and Real Salt Lake's Kyle Beckerman and goalkeeper Nick Rimando know it.

The story line is the glamour and starpower of Los Angeles versus, well, the other team.

The RSL pair heard it this morning in a press conference in advance of Sunday's MLS Cup. Neither player seemed in any mood to apologize for their presence here, but Beckerman had a nice line: something to the effect that he wishes it was 11 RSL players against just Landon Donovan and David Beckham.

Other topics to come up today: they believe wet FieldTurf could affect the game, but Beckerman pointed out that several RSL players have experience on artificial surface from the club's days at the University of Utah stadium.

Rain aside, both also had nice things to say about Seattle and the soccer atmosphere here.

And both said that while Columbus' Supporters Shield is a meaningful accomplishment, that in this playoff-focused country, MLS Cup is the league's top prize.

More later.

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Posted By Don Ruiz on November 20, 2009 at 8:16 am Share this

FIFA today denied the Republic of Ireland's request to replay their World Cup play-off with France, despite Thierry Henry's admission that he handled the ball in setting up the goal that sends France to the World Cup.

Here's FIFA's thinking: "The result of the match cannot be changed and the match cannot be replayed. As is clearly mentioned in the Laws of the Game, during matches, decisions are taken by the referee and they are final."

Here's the full story from Glasgow.

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Posted By Don Ruiz on November 20, 2009 at 8:07 am Share this

Real Salt Lake and the Los Angeles Galaxy will hold closed practices at Qwest Field today. However, one player from each team will make a public appearance in downtown Seattle this afternoon for the traditional tossing of the fish at Pike Place Market.

Here's the word from MLS:

This Sunday evening their teams will face off on the field at MLS Cup 2009 in Seattle for the championship of American soccer. But this Friday, Nov. 20, LA Galaxy forward Alan Gordon and Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Chris Seitz will meet at Seattle’s historic Pike Place Market to take part in the traditional fish toss along with the renowned Pike Place fish mongers.

MLS Cup will be played at 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Qwest Field (ESPN and Galavision).

WHAT: MLS Players participate in iconic “Tossing of the Fish” at Seattle’s Pike Place Market.

WHO: MLS Cup Players: LA Galaxy forward Alan Gordon and Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Chris Seitz.

WHEN: 4 p.m. today.

WHERE: Pike Place Market, 85 Pike Place, Seattle, WA 98101

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Posted By Don Ruiz on November 19, 2009 at 4:59 pm Share this

Sounders general manager Adrian Hanauer said Wednesday that just about everything is on the table for his team over this off-season: from losing a player in next week’s expansion draft to potentially bringing in a second designated player.

“We’re always looking to get better, and we’re willing to be aggressive to do so,” he said. “We’ve toyed with the idea and have had conversations with teams for trading for a second DP slot. … It’s certainly possible, but we’ll only do it if it makes sense for the team to win more games and perform better on the field, not just to bring another designated player onto the team.”

The MLS season comes to an official close once the Los Angeles Galaxy and Real Salt Lake conclude their 5:30 p.m. Sunday championship game at Qwest Field.

The very next day, the league opens a half-day trade window. Soon after that window shuts, clubs must submit their lists of 11 players who will be protected from the Philadelphia Union’s expansion draft.

Hanauer said the Sounders retain the rights to every player who ended the season on its roster except for defender Tyson Wahl, and Hanauer said he hopes to reach a new deal with him.

Forward Fredy Montero and defender Jhon Kennedy Hurtado are on loan from their Colombian team, however Major League Soccer has the option to buy those contracts.

“We’re very happy with Hurtado and Montero,” Hanauer said. “And we’re working toward keeping those players for another season and possibly seasons beyond that.”

The Sounders plan to hold player tryouts in Las Vegas in December, in advance of MLS’ college player combine Jan. 9-12 in Florida.

The college SuperDraft will be held Jan. 13.

The Sounders plan to begin training camp in late January. As they did last season, the club will begin training in the Puget Sound area and then shift overseas. This season they plan to practice and play training games Spain, with perhaps a short stop in London.

The Sounders’ are scheduled to begin their second season March 25 when the Union visits Qwest Field.

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Posted By Don Ruiz on November 19, 2009 at 2:12 pm Share this

Here are the basics from MLS:

Adding another prestigious honor to his outstanding career, LA Galaxy forward Landon Donovan was named the 2009 Volkswagen MLS MVP today.

The 27-year old, nine-year MLS veteran receives the honor for the first time in his career. Widely considered as the best American player ever, Donovan added to his 2009 awards after being named to the MLS Best XI and the winner of the 2009 AT&T Goal of the Year.

Donovan received the most votes in polling of MLS players, general managers, coaches and members of the media. FC Dallas forward Jeff Cunningham and New England Revolution midfielder Shalrie Joseph were the two other finalists for the award.

Donovan led his club with 12 goals and six assists in 25 games, despite missing a month of the season while at the FIFA Confederations Cup with the U.S. National Team.

Donovan and the Galaxy face Real Salt Lake in MLS Cup 2009 on Sunday, Nov. 22 at Qwest Field in Seattle. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN and Galavision starting at 5:30 p.m. (PT). Donovan is looking to win his fourth MLS Cup. He won two with the San Jose Earthquakes and one with the LA Galaxy.

More information at the MLS website.

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Posted By Don Ruiz on November 19, 2009 at 11:07 am Share this

Here's a photo gallery provided by MLSnet.com.

And by the way, you can get your own picture of or even with the trophy at the MLS Soccer Celebration north of Qwest Field. The celebration will run 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, when fans also can get players’ autographs and play soccer-themed games.

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Posted By Don Ruiz on November 19, 2009 at 11:03 am Share this

Third Eye Blind will perform a free concert between 4:15 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday in advance of the MLS Cup final. The brief concert will be held just north of Qwest Field as part of Soccer Celebration, a pre-game event scheduled 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., during which time fans can get players’ autographs, have their photo taken with MLS’ Philip F. Anschutz Championship Trophy and play soccer-themed games.

Concert footage aired on ESPN’s halftime show.

Kickoff for MLS Cup 2009 will begin at 5:30 p.m.

More information is available at the MLS website.

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Posted By Don Ruiz on November 18, 2009 at 3:32 pm Share this

Sounders general manager Adrian Hanauer said today that his club's protected list is almost ready in advance of the Philadelphia Union expansion draft next week.

“There are one or two at the end (of the list) that are a little tougher for us, but for the most part we know who we are going to protect,” Hanauer said. “That doesn’t mean that we’re not actively in discussions with teams about potentially using that half-day trade window to tweak a thing or two here or there.”

MLS will open a half-day trade window on Monday morning, and Hanauer said teams sometimes try to trade players they won’t protect in order to get something in return.

Once the protected lists are submitted, executives of the new Philadelphia franchise will have a day to consider the unprotected players and then will announce their selections Wednesday.

Here is part of an MLS release detailing the expansion draft procedure:

Philadelphia will select the core of their inaugural squad in a 10-round draft next Wednesday. Teams can participate in a half-day trade window on Monday until Noon ET. All 15 MLS teams are required to submit their lists of protected players to the League by 3 p.m. ET on Monday, Nov. 23.

The League will distribute a list of the players available in the expansion draft to media that day. At the conclusion of the Expansion Draft, results will be posted on MLSnet.com and teams may resume trading.

The most recent expansion draft was highlighted by several impact players who helped lead Seattle Sounders FC to a playoff berth in their first season including Brad Evans, Nate Jaqua and James Riley.

Philadelphia Union may not claim more than one player from any given team in MLS – five teams will not have a player taken in the expansion draft.

2009 MLS Expansion Draft Rules

(more...)

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Posted By Don Ruiz on November 18, 2009 at 1:43 pm Share this

Here's the release from the league:

Major League Soccer’s most spectacular individual plays were honored today as the LA Galaxy’s Landon Donovan won the 2009 AT&T Goal of the Year and Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Pat Onstad was awarded the Degree Men Save of the Year. Click here for more on these awards.

On Aug. 8 Donovan struck a stunning left-footed volley that curled into the far left side netting past an outstretched Matt Reis to give the Galaxy a 1-0 lead over the Revolution. The play resulted from a clearance by the Revolution defense and with one swing of his left leg, Donovan struck a beauty for his first Goal of the Year award.

Fans voted online for all 32 Goal of the Week winners, plus eight additional nominees. The goal, Donovan’s ninth of the season, was voted the best among 571 goals were scored during the 2009 regular season. Donovan’s remarkable strike edged a thunderous volley by Real Salt Lake midfielder Clint Mathis and a long-range blast by New England Revolution forward Edgaras Jankauskas.

Onstad’s double save against Colorado earned him the first Save of the Year award. Other top saves included Real Salt Lake’s Week 19 penalty kick save against FC Dallas forward Jeff Cunningham, and Dario Sala’s Week 30 save against Antonio Ribeiro. Onstad, 41, showed that his keen instinct and catlike reflexes have not diminished. With his team ahead 1-0 late in the second half, Onstad stoned Rapids' forward Conor Casey on a penalty kick attempt by reaching high with his left hand to parry away Casey’s shot. On the ensuing rebound attempt, Onstad recovered and saved another shot off the line from Rapids midfielder Terry Cooke. Onstad’s save secured a 1-0 shutout for the Dynamo.

Here's a link to Donovan's goal.

Here's a link to Onstad's save.

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