SEATTLE – Since the Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers inaugurated Major League Soccer’s Cascadia Cup rivalry on Saturday night, fans and journalists alike have been proclaiming that the game was revolutionary for soccer in the United States. However, it may have just illuminated yet again why soccer is not the biggest sport here.

The organizations and their supporter groups traded jibes on Twitter, Facebook and in person all week leading up to the game. The build-up was reminiscent of the Super Bowl (in the Northwest, anyways).

The atmosphere lived up to the hype. Images of the giant banners unveiled by the Emerald City Supporters made the rounds on the internet while the game was still being played. Members of the Timbers Army who managed to get in on the measly 500-ticket away allocation stomped and raved in thenortheast corner of Qwest Field all night long.

This prompted Steve Kelley to write a column in The Seattle Times titled, “This is how soccer should feel in America.” Kelley lauded the extravagant atmosphere and commented that “it was a celebration of what the game slowly is becoming in this country.”

Not to say that the atmosphere was not impressive, not to say that having a rivalry the magnitude of the Portland-Seattle-Vancouver triangle will not be good for soccer in America and not to take away from the storied saga of Sounders-Timbers hatred dating back to the old NASL days. However, soccer fans in America might want to hold off on proclamations of revolution for now.

The reaction to this gameshould be another reminder of why soccer is not the most popular sport in America. Average American sports fans crave extravagance and spectacle. Thevast majority of soccer games are not like that, though.

Washington’s other professional soccer team, the Kitsap Pumas, only drew 352 fans earlier that day – and it was sunny during the Pumas’ game, not pouring rain. This pales in comparison to the 1,000-plus the club averaged two seasons ago in its first season as a franchise, when the novelty had not yet worn off. (Disclaimer: I trained with them all that season.)

Conversely, attendances rose 15 percent in the Blue Square Premier League in England between 2008/09 and 2009/10, which is four steps below the Premier League. Average attendance grew from 1,800 to just over 2,000 during that time. And that happened in England, where clubs of all levels are so geographically close that fans routinely travel to their favorite club’s away games.

Lower-level attendances are on the rise in England because true soccer fans are able to enjoy the kick-and-chase slugfests played out in bumpy mud pits as well as elegant passing displays played out in the palaces of the beautiful game. The spectacle is not the attraction – the soccer is.

Most people talking about the Cascadia Cup opener on Saturday light up when they talk about the crowd and the hype. In turning to the game itself, they display far less enthusiasm. Kelley dedicated only the last four paragraphs to the game in a 700-word column.

The game itself was fairly entertaining, even though players had trouble dealing with the conditions. If the majority of enthusiasm around the game were centered on Alvaro Fernandez’s solid performance or anything else that actually happened on the field, my sentiments would be different.

However, as it stands, the first installment of the Cascadia Cup is only another symptom of American distortion of soccer. The atmosphere should only be a bonus, not the substance of the entire experience. When Americans learn how to appreciate both, we will have truly made it.

Liviu Bird is a journalism student at and plays goalkeeper for Seattle Pacific University. You can follow him on Twitter here.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

The MLS 2010 season came to a close with Colorado Rapids winning the MLS Cup and LA Galaxy winning the Supporters’ Shield. Now that league and cup competitions are approaching their climax, Major League Soccer has gone on a break and waiting for the 16th season to start on March 15th, 2011.

Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps FC will make their MLS debut – taking the total number of clubs to 18. Both the Timbers and the Whitecaps will join the Western Conference and Houston Dynamo will move into the Eastern Conference.

As far as the kits are concerned, adidas is the lone supplier of the kits for all the clubs playing in the league. Because of that, questions are raised about the amount of involvement by the club in the final decision of the kits. For example, when Seattle Sounders’ third kit for 2011 was unveiled, fans and media personnel wondered whether the Sounders actually opted for electric yellow or was it forced upon them.

The general consensus is that, clubs do have a final nod in the decision of the kits they will wear. So yes, Seattle Sounders did opt for electric yellow as their third color only after joining MLS in November 2007.

You can see the 2011 MLS jerseys here for all the 18 clubs participating.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Anybody casually tuning in to Major League Soccer’s Week 32 action and teetering over the great lake of MLS fandom will have jumped right in. The final week of the regular season began with a cluster of teams fighting it out to take up the final three playoff spots. The results and their impact on the playoff bracket were hugely surprising and entirely unpredictable as slip-ups and upsets allowed an unfancied team to leap into the post-season from outside everyone’s assumed candidates.

Chicago Fire confirmed their spot in midweek, defeating Chivas USA in a match which in turn confirmed Columbus Crew as winners of the Supporters Shield. Toronto FC somehow contrived to throw away their strong pre-game position by getting beaten 5-0 by New York Red Bulls. The result was a great send-off for Giants Stadium as the clubs prepares to kick off next season at the newly-built Red Bull Arena.

DC United and FC Dallas failed to take advantage. Tom Soehn’s men were 2-1 up at Kansas City and heading for the post-season when Fred handled the ball on the line, getting himself sent off and conceding the penalty which – when all the confusing permutations had been played out – ultimately doomed DC’s quest to failure. Dallas were beaten in Seattle to end their fantastic run through the second half of the season, while New England went to Crew Stadium, held their nerve, and booked a date with Chicago in the playoffs.

The chokers of the weekend were Colorado Rapids, who missed out on a very favourable opportunity by slumping to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Real Salt Lake, the weekend’s main beneficiaries. Thanks to Toronto, DC and Dallas all failing, RSL’s win sent them into a playoff spot which as recently as last week seemed almost impossible. Just goes to show – when you’re mathematically still alive, keep going until you’re not.

With the regular season done and dusted, it’s time for the top eight to get down to business. The playoffs begin tonight (Thursday) in Seattle and ending in the same stadium with MLS Cup Final on 22nd November. Here is your Soccerlens preview.

West: LA Galaxy v Chivas USA

This is exactly the kind of match MLS needs to continue to raise its profile. LA Galaxy are the highest profile team in the league, at least overseas, and the Superclasico is quickly developing into a worthy derby. This is surely helped by the fact that the two teams both play at Home Depot Center, a superb soccer-specific facility, and have been known to trade players across the lobby. Chivas is a young club which has defied the doubters to become a solid MLS concern, playing superbly in the early part of the 2009 season and improving late on to make a last-ditch push for the top of the table.

The Galaxy have taken the league by storm. A draw-riddled unbeaten streak characterised the first half of the season but by the time David Beckham returned from AC Milan the wins were beginning to flow. Folding Beckham back into the side and introducing Chris Birchall has given the side an extra creative edge, relieving some of the burden on the in-form Landon Donovan and allowing him to thrive alongside his English colleague. Their relationship, so fractious in the wake of 19 Entertainment’s alleged shadow takeover of the Galaxy and Grant Wahl’s book, The Beckham Experiment, appears to have developed into something much more productive.

The same appears to be true of Beckham’s relationship with the Galaxy supporters, who will no doubt appreciate the team’s first playoff qualification since Beckham’s arrival in 2007 and finishing first in the West.

West: Houston Dynamo v Seattle Sounders FC

For much of the 2009 season, Seattle have dominated the headlines. Large crowds have accentuated the feeling that the city was a market ready to adopt a top-level football club. Other sports have been suffering in Seattle and the Sounders name has plenty of history behind it.

The club has been marketed well all year and Drew Carey’s habit of appearing on national television draped in rave green can do no harm at all. On the field, Kasey Keller has been a solid backstop for a team which has for several months now struggled to score at home. Despite this, Fredy Montero is the most naturally gifted player in the league and is ably supported by designated player Freddie Ljungberg, former Arsenal youth player Steve Zakuani and target man Nate Jaqua.

However, Houston Dynamo are very reliable. A consistent team coached by Dominic Kinnear, possibly Major League Soccer’s finest, the Dynamo’s efficiency is the club’s biggest advantage. They are superb from set pieces and play confident, clever football on the floor too. The team’s superstar is Stuart Holden, an effervescent Scottish-born US international whose superb box-to-box midfield play has been a highlight for both the Dynamo and the US Men’s National Team this season. A big move surely awaits.

In Andrew Hainault, Juan Luis Landin, Ricardo Clark, Brian Ching, Geoff Cameron and others, the Dynamo have enough quality to make things very difficult for Seattle. Injuries to Landin and Clark could slow their progress but Houston should be consistent enough to see off the Sounders, though you just never know in football.

East: Columbus Crew v Real Salt Lake

In the East, Columbus Crew already have a 2009 title to their name. The Supporters Shield winners were crowned thanks to Chicago’s win over Chivas and go into the playoffs brimming with confidence. They know how to win MLS Cup (reigning champions, no less) and have looked unstoppable for large chunks of the 2009 season. Their squad depth is remarkable for MLS, demonstrated by Steven Lenhart and Jason Garey chipping in with crucial goals while Guillermo Barros Schelotto was out with an injury. Their excellent home record and depth of quality will make them many pundits’ favourites for a second consecutive win.

Their semi-final opponents Real Salt Lake did the business on the final day, defeating Colorado to take advantage of teams collapsing elsewhere. They grabbed an unexpected wildcard slot and will face a very difficult challenge against the Crew. Yura Movsisyan will want to sign off on a high before moving to Randers in Denmark, Robbie Findley has a sharp eye for goal and Kyle Beckerman is one of the finest midfielders in MLS. On their day, they can give anyone a run for their money.

East: Chicago Fire v New England Revolution

Also in the East, New England Revolution pounced on DC and FCD’s last-gasp inadequacy to grab a berth by winning the last game of the regular season. Having qualified in the absence of Taylor Twellman, the Revs are likely to be high on confidence despite one or two notable injuries. Shalrie Joseph, as ever this season, could be the key man. Kheli Dube must also be firing for the Revolution to succeed.

Their opponents may be hamstrung by their lack of consistency and questionable home form. Chicago Fire draw too many matches on their own pitch and the Revs’ gritty football may give the Fire some problems breaking them down. They will be relying on Blanco to unlock the Revs, and he is certainly capable of doing so. The two sides have been inseparable in league play in 2009, but the Fire triumphed in a Superliga tie in July.

The two winners from each Conference will play in the Conference finals in the middle of November before the final showdown in Seattle. So which team will be crowned champions? Columbus Crew’s squad depth is a huge asset because it provides options and flexibility, both ideal for cup football. Houston are also solid and are excellent from set pieces, which could help them dominate the key moments against Seattle. For their part the Sounders will have fantastic support and the confidence of a successful first season. I fancy them to upset the Dynamo.

But for me the favourites are LA Galaxy. It is said by English football supporters that momentum is essential for a playoff campaign, and if that holds true then the Galaxy hold the cards. They have big name players in David Beckham and Landon Donovan, both of whom possess immense quality, a winning attitude and, it appears, a new-found respect for one another. The pair are on form and, with a reliable defence behind them and worthy support acts elsewhere, they could lead LA to a title win before the former England captain heads back to Milan.

Chris Nee writes at twofootedtackle and co-hosts the twofootedtackle Podcast.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Seattle Sounders burst in through the saloon doors in March, chewing lazily on tobacco as they stood proud in front of the regulars and declared their intention to take Major League Soccer by storm.

The old boys weren’t pleased, but had to respect the Sounders’ testicular fortitude. Columbus Crew scowled from a bar stool with MLS Cup perched on the counter. LA Galaxy stopped playing the piano and DC United, slowly but purposefully, strode towards the entrance and challenged them to prove their credentials.

Fast-forward to the middle of September and Seattle Sounders have just beaten United twice in ten days. Saturday’s MLS game was crucial to Seattle’s playoff challenge, but September 2nd’s 2-1 victory at RFK Stadium added some serious sparkle to the club’s inaugural season as a Major League Soccer outfit, the Sounders lifting their first silverware after beating DC in the US Open Cup Final.

So with another good result under their belts against DC on Saturday, can the Sounders push on and add a second trophy to their MLS-era collection?

Centre of attention

Seattle Sounders are Major League Soccer’s newest club, but also one of its most exciting and worthy of attention. The first few weeks of the season were bathed in rave green as the Sounders – the offspring of the city’s NASL and USL-1 teams – went from strength to strength on the field.

Owned by film mogul Joe Roth, comedian Drew Carey, Microsoft’s Paul Allen and general manager Adrian Hanauer, the Sounders have benefited from the experience and pedigree of coach Sigi Schmid, and also from his ability to build a very good team from scratch, superbly playing within the rules of MLS to pick up players like Nate Jaqua and Peter Vagenas to supplement some good quality youngsters and a big-name designated player.

But it’s off the pitch that Seattle have made the biggest impact. Consistently packing out Qwest Field’s 32,000 soccer capacity, Sounders Nation has continued the city’s reputation as a one of passionate and noisy football fans. Having proven themselves worthy over a season, the supporters put the exclamation point on their profile with an impressive showing in a friendly with Chelsea, a match which anywhere else in MLS would likely have been infested with American Blues.

As a collective, Sounders fans have a charming cockiness, a brash abrasiveness which simultaneously impresses and irritates supporters of other teams. Forthcoming MLS expansion into Vancouver and Portland will highlight the less appreciative end of that spectrum, bringing Seattle fans back into contact with their bitter rivals from the Pacific Northwest, a soccerist triad which will become a fantastic marketing asset for the league. But a rivalry is also brewing with DC United following three heated games between the two, including an Open Cup final before which Adrian Hanauer’s war of words with the United marketing team merely served to raise the temperature.

Debut season success

Whatever happens from this point in, Seattle’s first season as a Major League Soccer side can only be seen as a success on the pitch as well as off it. Likely to qualify for the playoffs, the team has confirmed 2009′s appearance on the Sounders honours list early by winning the US Open Cup. The aforementioned final, at RFK Stadium against DC, was a dramatic affair which will be immortalised in Sounders history by a moment of madness from United’s former Portland goalkeeper Josh Wicks. But more importantly, Seattle’s trophy cabinet is now occupied, and a lot sooner than even the biggest optimist would have predicted.

In the league, the Sounders’ results have been positive. A three-game winning streak against New York, Real Salt Lake and Toronto FC gave Seattle a blistering start but a run of draws through April and May was punctuated by the occasional defeat and put paid to any idea that they were the best team in the division. Houston Dynamo and LA Galaxy, both very good sides whose fortunes will affect Seattle’s, have both been beaten. Points which should have been safe have been dropped, but unexpected points have been banked. They certainly haven’t disappointed.

Montero leads the way

Schmid’s squad has done him proud this season and highlights his mastery of the weird and wonderful workings of the roster and transfer systems of Major League Soccer. There are some big names who will be familiar to fans of European football, but they’re enabled to operate by a sprinkling of talented youngsters and a squad of solid professionals like Peter Vagenas and James Riley (plus the odd Sounders player from USL) with a lot of experience between them. It’s a potent blend, mixing pace and fearlessness with the cool heads – in theory, at least – of the elder statesmen.

There is nothing more to be said about Kasey Keller. The Sounders goalkeeper is 40 in November, but is still one of the league’s outstanding goalkeepers. Returning to the north west after playing in England, Spain and Germany, the former Timbers stopper has been as reliable as ever. With a team ahead of him playing its first season together, Keller’s coolness and ever-impressive shot-stopping ability has provided a defensive rock for the Sounders and no doubt given confidence to his defenders.

But the biggest asset in Seattle this season has been the attacking unit of the side. Former Dynamo striker Nate Jaqua has brushed aside some “personal issues” to become the Sounders’ spearhead up front, using his strength to hold up the ball, usually while moving forwards, and bring the players around him into the game. Those players include former Arsenal winger Freddie Ljungberg, Seattle’s designated player, and first-year pro Steve Zakuani, a lightning quick attacker who grew up in London and played at Arsenal until the age of 14. Zakuani has a knack of creating havoc for defences and has shown that he can grab some goals for himself too.

Completing the strike force is Colombian forward Fredy Montero. Currently in his first season, the 22-year-old has, like Jaqua, been able to deal with a police investigation and put in some remarkable performances. He’s started 22 MLS games for the Sounders this year, scoring a noteworthy 11 goals so far. We shouldn’t be surprised – he really made a name for himself at Deportivo Cali before being picked up by MLS and could easily have ended up in Europe, his likely destination in the not-too-distant future. In terms of quality, he’s right up there with the best in North America.

It’s difficult to see Seattle failing to make the playoffs from this point, but I think it’s unlikely they’ll go all the way. There are teams which will almost certainly qualify for the post-season and have either experience of negotiating the playoffs or more momentum than Seattle, who are – despite a hugely impressive first campaign – not in the best of form as the end of the season approaches.

Chris Nee writes at twofootedtackle and co-hosts The twofootedtackle Football Podcast.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Football is much more than just a sport. It is nothing without its history and traditions, its routine and habits, or its passion and drama. The sport establishes its roots over an area much wider than the field of play, an art form which – across much of the world at least – has spilled over to dominate mainstream culture.

One of the most intriguing aspects of the game is how it gives supporters a sense of tribal identity. That leads to a feeling of belonging and, in turn, of not belonging elsewhere. It creates rivalries, the very foundation of football’s excitement and ongoing vitality.

Some rivalries develop from controversy or from years of close competition. In the Premier League Manchester United and Arsenal have had an intense rivalry in recent years after competing for the title against one another on a regular basis. It was fueled, of course, by angry confrontations on the pitch and, most famously, in the tunnel. Lower down, eventful encounters between Bristol City and Crystal Palace have created a high-profile rivalry and an entertaining spat between Neil Warnock and Gary Johnson.

But most often, rivalry and hatred arise from little more than geography – and that’s where Major League Soccer will soon benefit.

In 2011, MLS expansion franchises will be born in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, British Columbia. Not only does this take the league to an impressive 18 teams (all being well elsewhere), it creates a pocket of clubs in the Pacific Northwest which has no shortage of history or rivalry. Seattle got a franchise in 2009 and it adopted a team name which dates back as far as the ultimately doomed North American Soccer League. It looks likely that 2011 will see similar adoptions in the region, with the Sounders being joined in MLS by Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps.

From a marketing point of view, nothing could be better for Major League Soccer. What’s more, these are – by American standards – soccer towns.

Seattle

In their first season, Seattle briefly threatened to take Major League Soccer by storm. Their performances have been respectable in 2009 including a fantastic start and enough points racked up to give Sigi Schmid’s side a reasonable chance of qualifying for the playoffs. Schmid has built a thrilling attacking force featuring former Arsenal midfielder Freddie Ljungberg, former Chicago and Houston striker Nate Jaqua, white-hot Colombian prospect Fredy Montero and former Arsenal youth player Steve Zakuani. When on song, the foursome make tantalising viewing.

The Sounders have been attracting attention off the pitch as well as on. The club, which boasts the fortunate boardroom combination of a representative from the club’s former USL-1 ownership, significant backing from Microsoft’s Paul Allen, and a celebrity figurehead in the shape of Drew Carey, embarked upon a clever marketing campaign before the start of the season which ensured the city was behind the club and Qwest Field became known for high attendances and being bathed in rave green.

It’s noisy too, and that just highlights the importance of MLS expansion into thriving football markets and maintain the traditions that have been established there. Names may sound trivial, but they are in fact crucial. Despite Major League Soccer’s unusual football model, fans will continue to follow a “new” club if it carries the moniker of the club it replaced. We’re creatures of habit and suckers for tradition.

The only thing missing from the Seattle tale – other than a trophy, of course – is a nice, juicy rivalry. But they’re on their way, and they do rivalries in style in the Pacific Northwest.

Portland

Philadelphia Union kick off in Major League Soccer in 2010, but MLS commissioner Don Garber confirmed earlier this year that 2011 will see the ascension of a franchise in Portland, Oregon and that it would carry the name Portland Timbers, tipping a hat to the tradition of a football club which played in NASL and currently competes in USL-1. Another tradition which will be carried over is the legacy of Timber Jim, the club’s lumberjack mascot who made his name by standing high above the fans with a chainsaw. He was named the club’s official mascot upon his retirement in 2008.

The story of Timber Jim is a fascinating one and this is the kind of history MLS can maintain if it remains honourable to existing clubs in its expansion towns. With Jim’s help, the Timbers Army (Portland’s main supporters’ group) has become one of the most fabled in American football. Known for its passion, noise and hatred of Seattle, the Timbers Army also has a penchant for the dramatic, as they showed when Portland met the Sounders in the US Open Cup earlier this season.

Defeat that evening did little to dampen the spirits of the Portland fans, whose cleverly choreographed demolition of the Space Needle impressed supporters all over MLS. Along with the TA’s rowdy performance it has football eagerly anticipating Portland’s MLS debut in 2011.

As will be the case with all future Major League Soccer expansion franchises, Portland has had to take into consideration stadium issues. Merritt Paulson has found what appears to be an acceptable solution, moving the Portland Beavers baseball team to a new stadium and renovating PGE Park in Portland for the Timbers and the Portland State University Vikings gridiron team. After its $31m renovation, PGE will hold between 22,000 and 23,000 fans.

Vancouver

Stadium news is also at the forefront of further expansion into Canada, where the Vancouver franchise – widely expected to take the name of the city’s USL and NASL teams: Vancouver Whitecaps. Owned by a four-man group featuring current Whitecaps FC owner Greg Kerfoot, Seagate top-dog Steve Luczo, Yahoo! veteran Jeff Mallett and Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash, Vancouver will also (in theory, at least) be playing in a newly-renovated stadium in 2011. The BC Place Stadium will be their home until at least 2015. The Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium remains in the pipeline.

The ‘current’ Whitecaps club was formed as the 86ers in 1986, reverting to the Whitecaps name later on. It has a string of honours to its name in both the CSL and USL and is also the home of youth, developmental and women’s teams. It might not sound much, but the existing Whitecaps club is an institution firmly rooted in its community. That’s one hell of a head start when one of the expansion club’s primary targets is engaging football supporters from the local area.

The Whitecaps’ rivalry with the Sounders came to an end when Seattle moved into MLS, and will be fascinating when renewed in 2011. With Portland thrown in for good measure, the atmosphere in the Pacific Northwest should be feisty. Furthermore, Vancouver’s new franchise will likely reignite a vocal (but friendly, one hopes) conflict with Major League Soccer’s existing Canadian outfit, Toronto FC.

The short-term future is looking bright.

With Seattle, Portland and Vancouver under its control, MLS will have three real soccer cities in the Pacific Northwest to its name come 2011. With that come hardcore supporters, who chant for their team and make a highly visual, noisy exhibition of themselves. Given the proximity and longevity of the three clubs, this will inevitably lead to a spicier MLS thanks to the already intense rivalries in place. In terms of passion, the existing geographical MLS rivalries (for example between Dallas and Houston in Texas, and the Galaxy and Chivas USA in Los Angeles) lack a certain something. The rivalries between the 2011 expansion clubs and Seattle have it in spades.

2011 will also be a good year for Major League Soccer in terms of sheer numbers. The two-team expansion will take the league to 18 clubs, arguably the optimum size for a first-class league. More importantly, fewer teams will qualify for the post-season playoffs than not. At present over half of the league enters into the post-season, a situation which makes a mockery of the playoffs in the league’s current state. With less than half qualifying in 2011 the league should gain an added competitive dimension.

Chris Nee writes at twofootedtackle and co-hosts The twofootedtackle Football Podcast.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

It looks like a summer of surprises for Manchester United thus far, doesn’t it? After swooping for Michael Owen and signing a little-known young French winger in Gabriel Obertan, United have pulled another rabbit out of the transfer hat with their latest signing.

They’ve been busy this summer, but not nearly as busy as their city rivals, who appear to be meeting a little frustration with at least one of their current targets.

Not to be forgotten is Chelsea, who may have relinquished their title as the Premier League’s biggest spenders to Manchester City but are being far from quiet this summer.

Keep reading to find out the latest tidbits involving each of the aforementioned clubs and much more of the top transfer news and rumors around the Premier League and Europe, and also make sure to check out the updated summer transfer lists to keep up with all of the latest confirmed moves.

England

Senegalese Surprise For United

Days after Sir Alex Ferguson said that Manchester United’s summer spending was done, United have gone and signed young Senegalese striker Mame Biram Diouf from Norwegian side Molde. The 21-year-old will remain at Molde on loan for the remainder of the season before joining United in January. (The Mirror)

Analysis: Not surprised to see United make another signing, and this may well not even be it for them, but I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who said ‘who?’ when seeing this tidbit. He’s currently the top scorer in the Norwegian top flight, with a four-goal showing in a league match on Sunday (which you can see here), so he’s got some skills. Fergie’s obviously looking towards the future by signing Obertan and Diouf, but only time will tell whether he’ll work out as well as former Molde star Ole Gunnar Solksjaer did or if he’ll go the way of Manucho (more on that below).

Adebayor Offered To Chelsea?

It appeared that Manchester City were close to wrapping up the signing of Arsenal’s Emmanuel Adebayor, but there looks to be yet another twist in the situation. After reportedly offering Adebayor to Manchester United, Adebayor’s advisers have now allegedly offered the Arsenal striker to Chelsea. (Daily Mail)

Analysis: Well, if he does move to City, methinks his advisers won’t be on the City holiday card mailing list.

Chelsea Close On Matic, Bid For Vucinic?

Chelsea could make a £20m bid for Roma striker Mirko Vucinic, who has also been the subject of interest from Manchester United and Tottenham this summer. (Daily Mail)

Analysis: Vucinic could be pretty receptive to a Chelsea move, but is he worth 20m? Talented striker, but inconsistent all the same. But inconsistencies aside, he is an accomplished striker domestically and in Europe, and with quality, proven striker options getting slimmer (or more expensive) by the day,

Also, Chelsea could be close to securing a deal for Serbian starlet Nemanja Matic. The 20-year-old midfielder is already claiming that he’s inked a contract with Chelsea, and a £5m fee could be settled with Matic’s club MFK Kosice. (The Sun)

Analysis: Matic likely won’t fit into Chelsea’s plans immediately, as strong as they are in midfield, but he’s certainly one to watch for the future. The same thing can be said about Serbia, who are producing a lot of top young talent right now.

Arsenal Step Up Hangeland Pursuit?

Arsenal could make an offer of £10m plus Philippe Senderos for Fulham center back Brede Hangeland. (Daily Star)

Analysis: Considering the source, one might not need to take too much stock into this one. But if such an offer did come about, could it be worth considering?

Fulham Target Montero

Fulham are interested in Seattle Sounders FC striker Fredy Montero. (Daily Star)

Analysis: Montero’s a promising young talent, and he’s showing that with a current streak of five straight games with a goal. If he keeps it up, it won’t be long before he makes the jump to Europe.

Forest Land Gunter

Nottingham Forest have signed Tottenham defender Chris Gunter for £1.75m. (Sky Sports)

Analysis: It was pretty unlikely that Gunter was going to make an impact at Tottenham in the near future under Harry Redknapp, so this is a good move for him.

Spain

Barcelona Close On Ibrahimovic

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has confirmed that there’s an agreement in principle with Inter Milan which will see Zlatan Ibrahimovic move to Barca and could see Samuel Eto’o and Alexander Hleb move to Inter. (Sky Sports)

Analysis: Seems to be only a matter of time before this one is all wrapped up, and I repeat what I said before – Inter come out better by far in this deal, at least in my book.

Valladolid Sign Manucho

Real Valladolid have landed Manchester United striker Manucho for an undisclosed fee. (Sky Sports)

Analysis: In the end, Manucho joins the list of players who haven’t been able to make a breakthrough at United, but he has a chance to become a first-team regular with Valladolid and play a key role in helping them to a solid finish next season.

Germany

Hamburg Seal Berg Deal

Hamburg SV have signed FC Groningen striker Marcus Berg for an undisclosed fee. (Sky Sports)

Analysis: Hamburg have certainly moved up a couple of notches for me in terms of Bundesliga title contenders, and if they can somehow swing a move to bring Van der Vaart back, I’d have to put them as the third favorite behind Wolfsburg and Bayern Munich.

France

Marseille In For Denis

Marseille could make an €8m move for Napoli striker Germain Denis. (Goal.com)

Analysis: Denis had a nice start to his time at Napoli, but he, and with the signing of Fabio Quagliarella, his opportunities would be even more limited.

Daily Links

Why David Beckham Will Be Good For MLS

Many may think that David Beckham’s MLS move is a resounding failure, but there are reasons why Becks could still have a positive impact for the league.

Why Isn’t Guadeloupe A FIFA Member?

With Guadeloupe in the midst of another fine showing at the CONCACAF Gold Cup, it makes one wonder why they aren’t an official FIFA member.

European League Start Dates

Looking to find out when the kickoff date for your favorite European domestic league? The Offside has done an excellent job in compiling start dates for many European leagues, both major and otherwise.

Chelsea Scrimmage With Seahawks QB Hasselbeck

In the midst of preparing for their first friendly in the U.S., a few Chelsea stars got some tips in the other football from an NFL star.

Ghost Stories Of European Footballers Episode 2 – Frank Lampard

If you haven’t checked out the first segment featuring Fernando Torres, do so before you check this one out. Just make sure you’re not in a library or in the middle of a class when you watch either.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

MLS Cup, the USA’s flagship football championship, is awarded not to the team which finishes with the most points after the regular season but to the team that prevails after a short knockout tournament played by Major League Soccer’s top eight clubs.

Now in its 14th season, MLS has been won no fewer than four times by DC United (1996, 1997, 1999 and 2004). Los Angeles Galaxy (2002 and 2005) and San Jose Earthquakes (2001 and 2003) have two titles under their respective belts, and Chicago Fire (1998), Kansas City Wizards (2000) and current holders Columbus Crew have each won once.

The Earthquakes moved to Houston before the 2006 season and Houston Dynamo came thundering out of the blocks to win MLS Cup twice on the bounce, defeating New England Revolution at Pizza Hut Park in ’06 and again at RFK Stadium in ’07. The Revs had also been beaten in the final in 2005, taking them to the unenviable record of four losing finals in just six years.

But it was New York Red Bulls who fell short last season, as Sigi Schmid led the Crew to a 3-1 MLS Cup final victory at the Home Depot Center. Schmid’s excellent coaching, now in evidence in Seattle, played a huge part as Columbus won the Supporters’ Shield (awarded to the team that would be “league” champions) and then successfully saw out the post-season. But much of the credit went to Argentine striker Guillermo Barros Schelotto – the current top scorer in MLS with ten so far in 2009 – who sealed his MLS Most Valuable Player accolade by creating all three cup winning goals.

2009: the story so far

The 2009 season has, in its first 14 weeks, been one of stumbling pace-setters. Everybody was impressed by the rampant start made by this season’s expansion club, Seattle Sounders FC. Boasting a menacing attack featuring former Arsenal midfielder Freddie Ljungberg, burgeoning Colombian talent Fredy Montero and former Dynamo forward Nate Jaqua, Seattle demolished New York in their first ever MLS game and followed up by beating Real Salt Lake and Toronto FC. Despite defeat to Seattle, TFC were also an early form team and – initially at least – shrugged off the loss of coach John Carver to maintain a decent start. Both then fell away.

Chivas USA and Chicago Fire then took the baton. The Californian club, led by free-scoring Mexican Eduardo Lillingston, showed great early season promise and sit just one point off top spot despite becoming less prolific in recent weeks. Before the two met in Week 11, Chicago had for a time gone blow for blow with Preki’s men. Cuauhtemoc Blanco’s 96th minute penalty that night put an end to Chivas’ excellent run but the Fire haven’t fared much better since.

DC United currently sit atop the Eastern Standings after a run of form characteristically defined by determination, a never-say-die attitude and a fair slice of luck. The form of Josh Wicks in goal and rookie Chris Pontius in a variety of positions have, for me, been vital to United’s run of relative success. It all came unstuck for United on Saturday, suffering from tiredness and failing to adjust to altitude as Omar Cummings ran them ragged to help Colorado Rapids to a 3-0 win. United’s form has been overshadowed only by a fantastic winning run by the Dynamo, now leaders of MLS, during which they came from almost nowhere and rose to the summit thanks to Brian Ching, Andrew Hainault and, in particular, Stuart Holden.

Playoff qualification

The qualification process for MLS Cup playoffs is very simple. The top two teams from the East and the top two teams from the West qualify and are seeded one and two in their respective East and West playoff brackets. The remainder of the illustrious eight consists of the next four teams (on points scored) regardless of their conference. If this means more than four teams on either side of the playoff brackets, the lowest teams move over. These teams play two-legged conference-specific semi-finals and the winners play single game East and West conference finals. The Eastern winners then play the Western winners for MLS Cup.

So, with the MLS schedule haphazardly rolling its way to the mid-way point of the 2009 season, which teams will now be believing they have a realistic shot at glory?

Eastern candidates

DC United head a batch of hopefuls in the East. Tommy Soehn’s side benefit from a blend of youth and experience. Rookies Rodney Wallace and Chris Pontius have surprised many with their excellent contributions, and the wiles of Jaime Moreno, Christian Gomez and the returning Ben Olsen have enabled United to pick up several late goals on their journey to the top of the standings. Chicago Fire and Toronto also have experienced frontmen in Brian McBride and Dwayne DeRosario, and have shown their ability to put together a run of results – a vital attribute for knockout football. Of the two, I’d say the Fire are more likely candidates.

Columbus Crew have quietly come up on the rails and now sit just four points behind DC United, though to qualify from the East it may be necessary to finish in the top three as a minimum given the higher tallies at the top of the West. Kansas City Wizards also have 19 points but have been somewhat less convincing. Josh Wolff, Davy Arnaud and Claudio Lopez have been putting in the goals for the Wizards to give them a decent chance of qualifying. Realistically the rest of the conference will now struggle to make it through to the post-season, though you can never rule teams out at this relatively early stage.

Western candidates

Given their breathtaking form, a third MLS Cup for Houston Dynamo must be considered a real possibility. So many of their players have stood up to be counted recently, not least new signing Cam Weaver. The teams at the top of the West have found it easier so far to pile on the points, and despite slipping over the last few weeks Chivas USA and Seattle Sounders only need a strong period each, say nine or ten games unbeaten, to guarantee playoff qualification.

Behind them, Colorado Rapids have two potent weapons in their arsenal. Conor Casey, spending a couple of happy weeks in South Africa at the moment with the US Men’s National Team, has netted an impressive eight goals from ten games this season and acts as a robust focal point for the Rapids attack. Omar Cummings, with six goals and six assists, combines lightning pace and a sharp football brain to great effect. This was best demonstrated last Saturday when he single-handedly tore apart the DC United defence, helping himself to two goals and setting up new national team recruit Colin Clark to kill the game off with a third.

Given the unpredictable nature of the game it would be churlish at this stage to make too bold a prediction, but I’d be staggered if Dynamo, Chivas and United didn’t walk into the playoffs long before the end of the season. It would be surprising too if Chicago and Seattle didn’t follow them into the last eight.

Even taking into account the apparent strength of Houston, it’s impossible at this stage to make a prediction as to which team will eventually come out on top. Knockout football is a strange beast, requiring momentum, character and luck. DC United fit that bill best at the moment, but lack the consistency of several other teams in the league. However, a Houston v DC final is not out of the question.

Chris Nee writes at twofootedtackle and co-hosts the twofootedtackle podcast.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

There are plenty of promising players in Major League Soccer, and many of proven quality too. Despite Europe’s negative perception of the United States’ flagship football league there is a good deal of talent currently plying its trade Stateside.

Many players have played on both sides of the Atlantic already. Juan Pablo Angel moved to New York Red Bulls from Aston Villa, David Beckham to Los Angeles Galaxy from Real Madrid (and back to Europe to play for AC Milan) and Darren Huckerby left England to have a crack at MLS with San Jose Earthquakes. Terry Cooke’s been in the USA for a while, and the British trio of Danny Dichio, Rohan Ricketts and Carl Robinson play in Major League Soccer’s Canadian outpost, Toronto.

Americans have had an impact in Europe, too. Kasey Keller starred in the Premier League and now plays in goal for Seattle. Brian McBride was a proven Premier League striker before returning to Illinois to lead the line for Chicago Fire. Bobby Convey plays for the Quakes with Huckerby and spent time in England with Reading. Others, including Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley and Freddy Adu, are currently flying the Stars and Stripes in Europe.

A predictable clutch of MLS players look capable of playing in Europe, Landon Donovan and Rapids goal machine Conor Casey being the obvious current candidates. But who else is playing in America and perhaps sneaking under the European radar? This is by no means a comprehensive list, and there are many omissions.

The players listed are not all Premier League quality or even of Premier League potential. Some would fit in better in other English leagues, others elsewhere on the continent. But I think they all have the potential to cross the Atlantic, earn a little more money – because that’s what football is about these days – and make a success of it.

The most defensive man on this list is a player who has the attributes to make an excellent holding midfielder. For my money, Major League Soccer’s goalkeepers are still generally lacking composure, dominance and the nous to effectively apply their agility and athleticism. But despite my sweeping generalisation there are one or two promising stoppers in MLS currently and the USA’s traditionally successful export of goalkeepers is unlikely to be at its end. There are good defenders too, but this is a position in which players will struggle to make an earth shattering impact.

As Week 12 gets underway, here are five surprising players who’ve caught the eye this season (and aren’t too old to make the move):

1. Macoumba Kandji (New York Red Bulls)

Despite the Red Bulls’ lumbering start, 23-year-old Mac Kandji has been bang in form. The big forward has only scored twice this term but has contributed three assists and forged a promising partnership with RBNY hitman Juan Pablo Angel.

Kandji’s physique would be ideal for the Premier League and he uses it well. He’s 6’4″, a wirey athlete with deceptive pace, great touch and decent vision, and he’s brimming with confidence. He’s definitely one to watch. If Kandji were to cross the pond, the Premier League is definitely the league for him, perhaps via France. His physicality and speed of thought would be an ideal asset for clubs in Europe’s more robust leagues.

2. Fredy Montero (Seattle Sounders)

Colombian forward Fredy Montero took Major League Soccer by storm in the early weeks of the season as Seattle got off to a roaring start in their first season in the league. Montero’s stylish South American swagger makes him an ideal candidate to play his home continent’s traditional number ten role, a creative pivot sorely lacking in certain European leagues.

Montero has so far racked up four goals from nine outings for the Sounders, including an ambitious strike from distance which found the net against Real Salt Lake at the end of March. As well as an eye for goal, Montero has plenty of pace and a good range of passing. With his off the pitch travails behind him and his first MLS red card out of the way, all eyes at Qwest Field are on Montero as the Sounders hunt for a playoff berth.

Fredy’s football brain and number ten style make him the perfect candidate to bring a little trequartista entertainment to Serie A. Perhaps clubs in mid-table which now play one striker and one withdrawn striker on the peninsula would get the best out of the Colombian youngster and with Napoli soon to be without Ezequiel Lavezzi, Naples could be his perfect destination.

3. Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake)

Real’s former Colorado Rapids midfielder might be a choice slightly out of left field, but the dreadlocked skipper deserves recognition. The 27-year-old has been capped by the United States and is, to my mind, a little under-rated.

Beckerman holds together RSL’s midfield, providing protection for the defence and the occasional blockbusting shot at goal. He has boundless energy and that wonderful ability to be in the right place at the right time and play simple. Beckerman’s attributes could be well suited to England, perhaps in the middle of the Premier League, but arguably he could also thrive in the Bundesliga.

4. Chris Pontius (DC United)

“Party Boy” was acquired by United in the 2009 SuperDraft and has made a huge impact at RFK in just 12 matches of his rookie year. Quickly becoming one of DCU’s key players, Pontius’ versatility enables him to be effective as a striker, just behind or – at a push – on either wing. He has already netted three league goals for his new club including a lovely late strike to trigger a blistering last few minutes at home to Toronto and a stoppage time winner in New York. In fact he’s already something of a Red Bulls killer, having struck twice in DC’s Open Cup win between the two – from defensive midfield.

Pontius has bundles of energy and has a little bit of everything to his game: an accurate shot, aerial ability, skill and a decent cross. While I’m tipping him now for a possible move to Europe, the truth is he probably needs to settle into a more regular position for a couple of years first. Right now, the fact that he is more than proficient in such a variety of roles is doing United the world of good.

5. Gerson Mayen (Chivas USA)

20-year-old Gerson Mayen debuted in MLS this season after progressing from Chivas USA’s developmental squad to the first team squad in 2008. In fairness his inclusion here is something of an ambitious one, as he has only seven appearances under his belt, but I think this is a talented young player. He’s a midfielder with stacks of ability and one thing he possibly has to his advantage over Pontius is a ruthless eye for the killer pass. Four assists have been chalked up by Mayen, the highlight being a perfect through ball for Eduardo Lillingston in Chivas’ 2-0 win at Dallas in March.

While Mayen’s selection will likely come as a surprise to any American readers, he is one player I’d like to see a lot more of. It’s possible he’ll develop into a more attacking midfielder than he is currently and adding a few goals to his repertoire would be a huge step forward – midfielders who can score and create are worth their weight in gold. That said, it’s too early to identify a European destination for Mayen. But he’s definitely one to keep an eye on.

Of course, this is all a matter of opinion. Who else is currently playing in Major League Soccer and has caught your eye? Who are the league’s best players, and should its homegrown players be getting a chance for the USMNT?

Chris Nee writes at twofootedtackle and co-hosts the twofootedtackle podcast.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Is the MLS the most balanced football league in the world? Why does the Galaxy insist on building teams around a single player? Will Seattle recover their grove? All this and more in our MLS weekly review.

1.) Parity like no other league

I cannot think of one league in the world that has the level of parity of MLS.  The salary cap keeps teams in check, and for it, on any given day, event he worst team in the league can win a game nobody would expect them to win.  We saw that this week.  

Winless in four, FC Dallas laid into Toronto, and on the back of the do it all Kenny Cooper, grabbed a win.  The win saw them climb out of the basement of the Western Conference, one point ahead of LA.  Houston, also collected their first win of the campaign topping an inform Colorado side to move from seventh to fifth in the standings.  

In the eastern conference, New York finally got in the win column by thoroughly dismantling a strong Real Salt Lake side.  If you’re planning on placing a bet, I’d peg New York to have a good stretch coming up.  Mac Kandji and Juan Pablo Angel are finally hitting their stride.

This just goes to show that disparity between any two teams is negligent.  It’s just about which team can consistently grind out results, and put fill up the win and draw columns in the standings.

2.) Where oh where is David Beckham?

Those who said the league did not need Beckham were right and wrong.  The league didn’t need him to add to the quality of play, but they sure do need him for his media presence and the butts he puts in the seats.  The average attendance this week was 11,019, and that does not even factor in the unannounced attendance in Dallas.  Based on what I saw in the broadcast, I would say there were no more than 5,000 fans in attendance.  Yikes!  

3.) Seattle learns why MLS is so tough

Seattle jumped off to a 3-0 start, but since has lost two in a row.  They fought an uphill battle courageously after Kasey Keller was red carded last week for a hand ball outside the box, and lost on a late goal, 1-0.  This week, they faced first place Chivas USA on the road and were beaten 2-0.  They didn’t play particularly poorly, but were not the same team that dominated their opponents in the first three games.  Kasey Keller will return this week from a one game suspension, and I’m sure they will welcome him back with open arms.

4.) I’ve heard this before

I initially thought the hiring of Bruce Arena was a good move, and in all honesty, Bruce is a great coach, but the guys he has to work with are dross.  Last year the team was carried by two players, David Beckham and Landon Donovan.  This year, the team is being carried by one player, Landon Donovan.  He’s scored two and assisted on three for a grand total of five goals that he has been involved in.  That’s great production, but the LA Galaxy have only scored six goals on the season.  Credit to the man after returning from a less than inspiring stint in Germany, but really, get him some help LA!

5.) 41 and counting…

Pat Onstad came up big again this weekend.  He pulled off a miraculous penalty save with his trailing hand against Conor Casey, then had the where with all to get up and make an instinctual save on the subsequent header.  Bravo!  Not to mention he was kicked in the face by Omar Cummings as well.  At 41, you begin to wonder how long Pat can go?  I’d bet that he’ll stay in the game until Vancouver enters in 2011, and try to play his final season in his home town.  

That’s about it for the weekend’s news and notes.  Share your thoughts and comments below.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

As FC Dallas fight for their life in an empty Pizza Hut Park and DC United swim frantically upstream in their search for a new stadium, one Major League Soccer franchise has taken the league by storm this season, seemingly demonstrating exactly what the perfect US football club should look like. And it’s doing this all in the very early part of its first season in the USA’s flagship league.

Microsoft co-founder and Seattle Seahawks owner Paul Allen and comedian Drew Carey have thrown their support behind Seattle Sounders FC, Major League Soccer’s 2009 expansion franchise. They are joined in the directors’ box by existing Sounders owner Adrian Hanauer and majority owner Joe Roth, and the Sounders FC regime appears – from the outside – to be going about things the right way.

And it’s that “right way” which ends up under the microscope so often when UK football supporters critique American football (the round ball flavoured version). So many fans glance across the Atlantic and dismiss Major League Soccer because of empty grounds, substandard football and “American” atmosphere. We criticise the league because it’s artificial, and its clubs are created out of thin air. But there is a market for football in the States, and while we have been able to watch our league grow up organically from William McGregor’s brainchild in Victorian England, our American cousins don’t have the same luxury.

Simply put, there aren’t many other ways of creating a league from scratch, and I think MLS is really beginning to head in the right direction. Sounders FC could play a big part in that progression.

Sounders Nation: the right city at the right time

Hitting the ground running could be hugely important for a new club joining an established league – especially in such a crowded sports market. Seattle did that emphatically, winning their first three matches to nil and marketing the club superbly well from the very beginning. As a result, the Sounders sell out Qwest Field and had sold over 20,000 season tickets by the time the season began. That’s no mean feat.

But why does it seem to be working? Firstly, there’s an argument for Seattle just being “right” for soccer. Although this is clearly difficult to qualify, the Sounders name is one which has a considerable history and, excitingly, a long-running rivalry with the Portland Timbers – a rivalry which will be renewed when Portland bursts onto the Major League Soccer scene in the 2011 expansion.

Clearly there are rivalries in other sports, including the sports which dominate the US market. But there’s something so tribal and base about a football rivalry that takes a little more emotional investment. In other words, Seattle has football fans. It’s the right city.

Sounders FC was also launched into a favourable market. After a drawn out legal battle, Seattle’s NBA franchise, the Supersonics, relocated to Oklahoma City to become Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008, leaving the football club behind only Allen’s Seahawks in the battle for Seattle’s affections. Obviously not a franchise to rest on its laurels, Seattle has treated the fans with total respect. It’s often forgotten by football clubs that we don’t have to fork out our cash to keep them afloat.

Major League Marketing

As we all know, as long as the eleven men on the pitch are successful, it’s the little touches that create a contented fan base. Last May, Carey announced that members of the Sounders FC Alliance – the club’s members association – would be given the ability to vote out the general manager. Every four years, the Sounders GM will be subject to this vote, beginning with Hanauer in 2012. It may not sound much, but I can think of a few other Major League Soccer franchises where the fans would quite fancy giving the GM the boot.

At the other end of the marketing spectrum, Sounders FC dished out a bunch of scarves as part of Scarf Seattle, a campaign which encouraged fans to drape rave green and blue scarves all over the city in the days leading up to First Kick 2009. Without going into too much depth, the rest of the marketing mix was sharply managed too. But with an ownership line-up of this calibre, what does one expect? Even the Space Needle was drenched in green and blue light.

Sigi Schmid

If you’re preparing to kick off a new football club in the States in 2008, few coaching candidates stand out like Sigi Schmid, and the Sounders got their man. With Schmid coming right off the back of his Supporters Shield and MLS Cup wins with Columbus Crew, Seattle moved in and offered him a presumably very tidy sum. His move was controversial, with Crew suggesting the involvement of foul play. His fantastic start in charge of the Sounders, along with his success at Los Angeles Galaxy and Columbus, explains exactly why such a tug of war surrounded Schmid’s dealings with Seattle.

For supporters hailing from Europe, where firepower sits with the richer clubs and their spending continues unabated, the concept of parity is sometimes difficult to grasp. American sports fans are more familiar with draft systems and salary caps, and they know the importance of coaching. That Sounders FC snared a man who has under his belt two MLS Cups, three Supporters Shields, a US Open Cup and a CONCACAF Champions Cup is something of a coup.

If anybody was surprised at Seattle’s blistering start in Major League Soccer, perhaps they shouldn’t have been.

How to build a squad from scratch

An unusual challenge facing Schmid was the opportunity to construct his team almost out of thin air. Around 20 members of the now-defunct USL-1 Seattle Sounders were invited to try out for the MLS expansion side, and a handful succeeded. One, goalkeeper Chris Eylander, will replace the Sounders’ suspended stopper this weekend. On top of this, the new Sounders coach displayed plenty of nous in his squad building.

A quick look down the Sounders roster draws one’s eye to a few outstanding names. Legendary goalkeeper Kasey Keller, is Seattle’s captain. The 38-year-old left for Europe in 1992 and took in England, Spain and Germany before returning to the States to skipper the Sounders. Keller is a popular player, has vast experience of very different football cultures and is definitely a captain worth looking up to. He is joined by former Arsenal star, Olof Mellberg’s best mate and West Ham doctor-botherer Freddie Ljungberg, Seattle’s designated player. A bit-part beginning for the Swede has been impressive nonetheless, and he scored his first MLS goal against Toronto earlier this month.

If Ljungberg’s acquisition was astute, the signing of Colombian youngster Fredy Montero on loan from Deportivo Cali was a stroke of genius. Despite one or two off-field concerns (Montero was cleared this week of sexual assault allegations relating to supposed stalking), Montero’s form has been spellbinding. He’s firmly among the goals, including one special strike in particular, and his performances have won him plaudits from all over the States. Going about their business perhaps a little more quietly are draft pick Steve Zakuani and former Houston Dynamo forward Nate Jaqua.

Between them, Zakuani, Jaqua, Montero and Ljungberg make the Sounders a thrilling prospect on the field. With all that marketing might behind it, an exciting and dynamic football team could just help turn Seattle Sounders FC into a force to be reckoned with.

You can read more from Chris Nee at twofootedtackle.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News