[Photo: Bongarts] We're now far enough into the season to start reveling in instant nostalgia, so let's take a quick look at the most stunning headline grabbers thus far - for both good and bad reasons. For this Top 5 List, I will mention each club with a corresponding player I find emblematic of their surprise factor. Click to continue reading...

Ahhhh good ol' Fairmount Park. And no, I wasn't there back when this photo was snapped - just thought it looked cool. I'll just pretend you didn't think that and move on... The MLS second season kicks off Thursday when East #2 seed Chicago visit New England, so there's little time to waste making up the NSC handicappers sheet (much of which was already squandered when my interwebs went out last Click to continue reading...

Ahhh, nothing like a day at the track. We had the idea to do up a "race sheet" for the MLS expansion derby, but felt it would be best to turn that over to someone a little more in the know. Hence, Chrös McDougall is back with another guest spot... Seven cities stepped up to the line yesterday, submitting applications to be the 17th or 18th team in Major League Soccer. Click to continue reading...

As promised, I will now channel my flu fury into blasting some of the most insipid, wrong-headed regulations to be found in the world game. I'm sorry this took so long, but the research for some of these rules was far harder than I anticipated. It's almost like they don't want you to know the exact deal, eh? Click to continue reading...

Right on the heels of a round of Who likes goals?, it seemed a proper time to celebrate some of the top shot-stoppers in the global game. Rather than go for the obligatory current superstar ranking, I figured we should take a glimpse at the next generation of stonewall netminders. I did not include obvious choices with plenty of time left on their sides, such as Real Madrid's Iker Casillas (27) Click to continue reading...

Gather round, be all ears! As promised, here are my choices of the finest pieces of efficient business done during the summer transfer window. I included free signings and pre-deals for judging, but loans deals are not eligible. I have factored in fee, need, age, skill, potential, field impact and financial boost capabilities. Click to continue reading...

Having had a few days to do some studying and weigh all need factors specific to the clubs, I will now present my list of best summer shoppers of 2008... #5 - Paris St. Germain Despite not spending nearly as much as many clubs, rebuilding PSG added a strong veteran, winning influence with the arrivals of Ludovic Giuly, Mateja Kezman and Claude Makalele. Click to continue reading...

Yep, as promised, U.S. international Jonathan Spector becomes the first guest Top 5 Lister in NSC history... wow, when I say it like that, it sounds really important. And so it is. I was all set to drop my own "Top 5 Summer Transfer Winners" when the West Ham defender submitted his picks for the wiliest, craftiest handfuls he's ever had the chance to square up against in competition. Click to continue reading...