MLS' 2010 season starts today
Posted By Don Ruiz on November 23, 2009 at 2:47 am
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With the final whistle of MLS Cup last night came an unofficial beginning to the 2010 Major League Soccer season.
The first order of business comes today, when the 15 existing MLS teams must submit their lists of 11 players each who will be protected in the Philadelphia Union expansion draft on Wednesday.
However, looming over all other off-season issues is the renegotiation of a new collective bargaining agreement with the players. The current CBA expires on Jan. 21.
Commissioner Don Garber has said he is optimistic, while acknowledging that the agreement will be difficult.
Sounders FC player representative James Riley has said the union’s top issue is freedom of movement for the players.
Do they release the protected lists to the public?
They do. (I remember being surprised by that last season during the Sounders expansion draft.) I'm just not sure on timing. I'll post as soon as I get it.
Thanks!
It appears the Sounders had to add our favorite Sweden to the protected list.
favorite "Swede"...
WHAT?! Why? I thought DP's were automatic like the Gen Adidas players.
The list is out are included in a new post above.
So Riley is the players' rep, and he doesn't get protected.
Coincidence?
Question, Don: How many of the other players' reps were protected by their clubs? Interesting to figure that one out, particularly as things don't sound particularly harmonious vis a vis negotiations over the next CBA.
Riley wasn't protected the past two years, and was picked both times. I really doubt it has anything to do with being the player rep- he didn't become an activist in the past year, and one whiff of "not protected because he's player rep" and the team is in front of the NLRB. No pro team has been that stupid.