I'll be honest: I'm not a huge fan of my last post. Don't get me wrong. I still believe in the ideas set forth, and how younger players could miss their chance in MLS without a Reserve League to hone their skills. It's just that...well...I was passionate about the League. I loved it. I thought that when it was handled correctly - Sunday morning matches on practice pitches - it was a stroke of Click to continue reading...

(any other parents of preschoolers out there?)

Well, this post is better late than never, although it may not be news to you anymore.

Our young defender, from Cal State Northridge of all places, is MLS Rookie of Year! And has been named Rookie of the Year while playing on the worst team in MLS.

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I was reading Goff's blog the other day, and he broke down the first round of the 2008 SuperDraft. Frankly, there wasn't much to write home about. Of the 14 picks, only Sean Franklin in LA has played significant minutes, and he is a defender on the worst defense in the league. He then mentions a [... Click to continue reading...

What was with the end of that match? Calling the game in the middle of a breakaway? Next to just before a PK, that is the most absurd time a ref could possibly call a game in soccer. If you watched the game from your home (at least the part that made it on the air), you heard a lot of complaining about inconsistent officiating, but over all, it seemed pretty normal for MLS.

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The Richmond Kickers of USL-2 have announced that Zimbabwe-born midfielder Stanley Nyazamba has signed a developmental contract with the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer, making him the 22nd player in Kickers history to move on to MLS. Nyazamba, 25, was named USL-2 Rookie of the Year this past season after posting eight goals and two assists in his first season with the Kickers. Click to continue reading...

Columbus crew have signed the midfielder from the USL's Richmond Kickers according to the Richmond club's website. Nyazamba was the USL-2 Rookie of the Year award following his 2008 season in Richmond.

Press Release:
RICHMOND, VA – (Tuesday, September 16, 2008) – The Richmond Kickers are pleased to announce that midfielder Stanley Nyazamba has signed a developmental contract with the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer, marking the 22nd Kickers player to advance to MLS. Click to continue reading...

By definition the Convey award goes to the team's Rookie of the Year. But there's a couple of different ways you could interpret that. Do you give the award to the young player who has made the biggest contribution so far this season? Or do you give it to the guy who has the best chance of being a star in the MLS? Click to continue reading...

It almost seems like being the best rookie this season is like a death wish. Either you start out on top and fade quicker than anyone thought, get hurt or...well get hurt some more. That seems to be the nature of things right now in the league for our crop of rookies. Usually by now we [...] Click to continue reading...

I came across this the other day but forgot to post it. Newly minted left back Matt Marquess gets some props from Jeff Carlisle at ESPNSoccernet.com for his play late in the year for our boys in blue. Carlisle says if he keeps it up, his name just might be in the mix for rookie of the year at season's end. Click to continue reading...

US midfielder Maurice Edu has been on the go non-stop over the past few weeks, having represented his country in the Beijing Olympics and a World Cup Qualifier in Guatemala, as well as pulling club duties with Toronto FC and flying to Europe for negotiations all within the span of 10 days. Now, the 22-year-old midfielder is finally getting set for a calmer spell at his new home, Ibrox Stadium, which will officially begin when Edu joins Rangers in Scotland later this week. Click to continue reading...

Photo by ISIphotos.com

U.S. national team midfielder Maurice Edu received his UK work permit on Friday, clearing the way for his $5 million transfer to Glasgow Rangers.

Edu will join U.S. national team teammate DaMarcus Beasley at Rangers, where he is expected to challenge for a starting central midfield role.

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Its the side of the MLS i worry about.Being a developmental league for Europe. On fixed budgets per team the best MLS talent mature only to be picked by bigger clubs.Soccerlens is reporting Scottish giant Glasgow Rangers are keen to sign Toronto's star midfielder. If true and the deal happens Toronto who are in a heated playoff chase may feel the sting of this transfer as will its fans. Click to continue reading...

Toronto FC midfielder and emerging USMNT star Maurice Edu is likely on his way to Europe - Scotland, more specifically. Several sources are reporting that Major League Soccer has agreed to a $5 million transfer fee for Edu with Scottish club Rangers FC, with only personal terms between the player and the club left to be finalized before a deal is announced. Click to continue reading...

Photo by ISIphotos.com

Maurice Edu has spent just two seasons in MLS, but that may be enough time for him to earn a big-money move to Europe.

According to the Washington Post, Edu is on the verge of a $5 million move to Scottish power Glasgow Rangers.

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Today just seems like as good of a time as ever to update this list. Seeing how it has been nearly a month's time since our last view at this list. Some rookies are shining in league games and in once case in SuperLiga games. With only ten or 12 games left on the year (depending [...] Click to continue reading...

Before I get into the guts of this post, which will be short anyway, I just want to say that I do not consider myself to be a tactical or analytic genius when it comes to futbol. I expect much of what I say will be up for debate and that people will feel free to tell me when they think I'm a raging idiot in the comments.

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Heart warming isn't it? Although he is living the MLS dream, there is a tragic side to TFC's Maurice Edu. Despite being the number 1 pick in the 2007 Superdraft, being named 2007 Rookie of the Year, being capped by the US national team, and named to the 2008 All Star team there is still some missing.

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From RevolutionSoccer.net:

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Revolution has announced that defender Chase Hilgenbrinck has decided to leave the club and retire from soccer to enter a Catholic seminary in Maryland to prepare for a new career in the ministry. Additionally, the Revs announced that MLS rookie of the year candidate forward Kheli Dube has been promoted to the team's 18-man senior roster.

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Highlights from the ever-inspiring Sons of Ben chat with Nick Sakiewicz on Jun 16, 2008 (see full transcript here):

Stadium:
-Planning electronic signage
-Architect of the stadium is Rossetti Architects (Home Depot, Toyota Park, Real Salt Lake). We will build a scale model for our sales center to be located at the site. Click to continue reading...

This is the Houston Dynamo we've been waiting to see.

The two-time MLS champions got off to a terrible start to the season but Houston is hitting its stride now, as evidenced by its 4-1-1 stretch in its past six MLS matches. The latest victory came against a short-handed TFC squad that is having some struggles after its own good run of form.

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This is the Houston Dynamo we've been waiting to see.

The two-time MLS champions got off to a terrible start to the season but Houston is hitting its stride now, as evidenced by its 4-1-1 stretch in its past six MLS matches. The latest victory came against a short-handed TFC squad that is having some struggles after its own good run of form.

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Maybe Monday will be my big day from here on out....

- Seeing Michael Harrington's name on the score sheet for KC yet again has me thinking about Rookie of the Year for some reason. There's Harrington, New England's Adam Cristman, arguably Robbie Findley...and....and...I'm sure there are other candidates out there. Anyone want to enlighten a lazy man? Click to continue reading...