Twenty-one games down, nine to go. Incoming transfer window closed, though trades and discovery claims can continue through the roster freeze date of Sept. 15.

A few teams are involved in the CONCACAF Champions League, which will complicate their schedules to say the least. Judging by the MLS results in the first leg, some teams may view that competition as more of a nuisance than anything else.

Click to continue reading...

Like many American soccer fans, I appreciate college soccer for what it really is - unwatchable slop. But, occasionally great players come out of said slop including guys like Brian McBride, Maurice Edu, Taylor Twellman, and Brad Guzan. This fall, I am going to attend a few college matches to take a look at some [. Click to continue reading...

Another week of wheelin' and dealin' in MLS. Here is an updated list of what's gone on during this season in terms of player movement. Here's some food for thought though too. Look at this list, you see something interesting? Yeah, a whole slew of Americans returned to MLS this summer. Brian McBride, Eddie Lewis, Robbie [. Click to continue reading...

Eddie Lewis was passing through the Galaxy locker room, his head stitched up from where he'd sustained a cut in the match versus Guatemala. Back in the pressbox, one of the reporters brought up Eddie's age and wondered about his durability in the rough and tumble world of MLS. I pointed out that Brian McBride was older. Click to continue reading...

Bruce Arena's return to the hot seat as a manager of an MLS team didn't go as smoothly as he would have hoped as his recently inherited LA Galaxy fell 1-0 to a surging Chicago Fire squad led by striker Brian McBride. Click to continue reading...

Bruce Arena
Photos by Scott Varley

Watched and blogging my fourth game in 24 hours or so.

Stand back and no one will get hurt.

This was one of those nights when the press conference was more interesting than the actual game.

We had a local lad having a great night, a new famous coach at his first game and Brian McBride back in MLS.

Click to continue reading...

I asked Hamlett how relieved he was to be done with the protracted negotiations to bring Brian McBride to the team. "You have no idea," he answered with a look that said twice as much as his words. He had only nice things to say about McBride, though.

Click to continue reading...

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

What's that noise? Ah, the final whistle thankfully is here. This was one of those nights to stay home and watch synchronized diving or dressage rather than endure a game of over hit crosses, flubbed back passes and inaccurate shots.

John Thorrington of the Palos Verdes Peninsula saved the game from complete non-event status with a swerving shot from 19 yards served to him on a platter by Brian McBride to give the Fire a 1-0 win.

Click to continue reading...

Turns out Bruce Arena's first Galaxy team looks a lot like Ruud Gullit's last team - not that he's got many options of course.

David Beckham is on his way to China for the Olympics closing ceremonies, Landon Donovan is recovering from last night's Guatemalan hackfest, um, game, Carlos Ruiz is now a Toronto player, eh, and new signing Eddie Lewis has the evening off too, recovering from the nasty blow to the head he took, no doubt.

Click to continue reading...

Usually a high profile match at this point in the season should get the hype it deserves. On paper Chicago and LA have some major star power for ESPN to get all giddy about but when MLS made their schedule they forgot one thing, that FIFA would be doing their dates in the midweek for [...] Click to continue reading...

They both played Wednesday, both a manageable distance away and both will be at Home Depot Center tonight.

But who stands a better chance of playing - Chicago's Cuauhtemoc Blanco or the Galaxy's Landon Donovan?

We know David Beckham won't be there. He's off in China for the Olympics closing ceremony. Click to continue reading...

What can we say other than we called it.

While it didn't go down as part of an epic 3-way trade involving Brian McBride, our sources were right in that El Pescado still ended up with a new northern pond.

Read more about that here.

We hope he likes the water temperature there. Click to continue reading...

As a supported from America, I've always had a soft spot for Fulham. With Brian McBride, Carlos Bocanegra, Clint Dempsey, Eddie Johnson, and Kasey Keller all previously (or currently) on their roster, Fulham is a squad that has always trusted and depended on American players.

McBride was Fulham's evergreen captain - the man who was always there to score that crucial goal. Click to continue reading...

A lot of crazy stuff going on around the league. Jeff Cunningham (top left) became the 4th player in league history to get 100 goals, which is one helluva feat for an often maligned player.

Also we saw the debut of Brian McBride (top right) for the Fire. Unfortunately, Chicago might have a racism issue going on. Click to continue reading...

Photo by ISIphotos.com

Somebody stop the Earthquakes.

San Jose and it's revamped squad trounced the New England Revolution, 4-0, on Saturday, adding more momentum to an improbable playoff push and adding another team to an already crowded playoff chase.

Click to continue reading...

Photo by ISIphotos.com

Somebody stop the Earthquakes.

San Jose and it's revamped squad trounced the New England Revolution, 4-0, on Saturday, adding more momentum to an improbable playoff push and adding another team to an already crowded playoff chase.

Click to continue reading...

The Chicago Fire and D.C. United rekindle one of the most heated rivalries in MLS tonight as D.C. travels to Toyota Park to face Cuauhtemoc Blanco for the first time since his U.S. Open Cup dust-up against D.C. last month.

The match marks the debut of newly-acquired Fire forward Brian McBride, who will make his first appearance since leaving Fulham and signing with MLS.

Click to continue reading...

The last time United visited Chicago, the team got a thrilling, last-minute win courtesy of a Luciano Emilio goal. I'd take a similar result this evening - you know, a win - but would prefer a little less drama. The team watched some film last night in preparation and will need to be ready for U.

Click to continue reading...

Yesterday was the final day of the summer transfer window. A few moves went down so I figued it would be a good time to update this list again. As always feel free to let me know if something is out of place. This is just in-season movement, stuff from pre-season won't be included. Chicago Fire Incoming: Brian McBride [. Click to continue reading...

In honor of Brian's return to MLS, here is a moment of inspiration courtesy of Brian McBride. Its a great goal that he scores for Fulham on a pass from Carlos Bocanegra.
Click to continue reading...

It appears that Brian McBride will play his first game back in MLS for the Chicago Fire this weekend and even at the advanced age of 36 he is still a welcome addition to the league. Brian has been a warrior throughout his career with the U.S National Team, for clubs in Germany and England, and also during the start of MLS. Click to continue reading...

Very quick notes while on the run in Beijing:

- The EPL team we've picked to follow, Everton, kicks off the season at 10 a.m. ET Saturday against Blackburn, conveniently on Fox Soccer Channel. Take a look.

- Could the LA Galaxy be doing any more to telegraph the expected hiring of Bruce Arena?

Click to continue reading...

Print this out and save for May to let me know what a clueless jackass your humble writer is. (Sorry guys this post was accidentally scheduled to publish on Saturday, oops.) 20. Stoke City -- Anyone got a good Harry Potters pun at the ready? 19. Hull City -- In Windass we trust. 18. Fulham -- I know Brian McBride and Andy Johnson, you're no Brian McBride. Click to continue reading...

In case you were wondering, the US will announce their roster for Wednesday's World Cup qualifier in Guatemala later today.

I had originally thought that the game would have a massive affect on the Galaxy-Chicago Fire game but it may only be limit one player, albeit the superstar, from suiting up. Click to continue reading...

I had thought about going through each US player who saw significant playing time in the Olympics and judging him on whether his stock rose or fell in terms of his prospects with the senior team.

But I can't think of many players who improved their standings with performances in this tournament. Click to continue reading...