May 3, 2007
LA Soccer News.com is reporting that Chivas USA has sent the former MLS MVP to Toronto FC for Paulo Nagamura and a draft pick. However, Ives Galarcep is reporting that Chivas USA is denying the report.
For Chivas' sake, I hope the report is incorrect. If it's not, then they've traded away their Designated Player slot for Nagamura and a draft pick. And with LA becoming desperate for a Designated Player slot, you'd think that Goats fans would be up in arms if they were to give away their Designated Player slot that cheaply.
If Toronto FC was able to pull this off, it would be a major coup should Mo Johnston be able to calm Guevara down a tad and refocus him on the task at hand. Add in Ronnie O'Brien almost being ready to return from injury and it would appear that Toronto FC's scoreless drought should be coming to an end rather soon.
Around MLS
- MLSNet.com has an article on new DC United forward Nicholas Addlery who is supposedly the player that will push Jamil Walker out the door. If Addlery is so good, why was he previously signed with Virginia Beach?
- US Soccer Players.com questions whether or not Columbus, Ohio is too small for MLS. If Columbus is too small for MLS, then that tells me that Rochester is too small for MLS as well.
- A California developer holds the key to MLS expanding to Portland or Seattle apparently. Michael Keston apparently favors Portland because of a recent tour of PGE Park, the home of the USL 1st Division Portland Timbers. Whatever happened to MLS not allowing a team to co-habitate with a minor league baseball team?
- Real Salt Lake GM Steve Pastorino has resigned his post according to AYL Soccer.com. Many will ask what took so long and when with John Ellinger follow him out the door? I'm hoping that the next GM really puts a priority on bringing Kasey Keller to RSL.
Yanks Abroad all over the US Men's National Team
They have articles on Bob Bradley complimenting Jonathon Spector, DeMarcus Beasley saying that the Gold Cup is priority #1 this summer , and a call for more USMNT camps and matches in Europe. There is nothing overly shocking there, but it's always nice to read some USMNT chatter during down time for the team.
The build up to tomorrow night's opener
The Rhinos have announced their plan to emphasize customer service in 2007. I like the talk about the concession changes. The key will be in the execution. The one change that I'm not looking forward to is allowing umbrellas into the main part of the stadium. Personally, I hate it when either my view is obstructed by someone's umbrella or the person in front of me pops one up and I get a ton of water running off it onto my legs. So, let's all hope that the weather in 2007 is much better than it has been the last few years!
The D&C is doing their best ahead of the opener as well. Devo had a nice article in yesterday's D&C about T-Bone Bonseu and Scott Pitoniak has a nice article on Rhinos rookie midfielder Ryan Wileman in today's paper.
And if you have fifty cents lying around, pick up the print edition of today's paper for the Meet the Rhinos section.
I can't wait for tomorrow night. And that 8pm start time for FSC is making things even worse!
The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author, and not necessarily those of the Rochester Rhinos or SoccerSam.com. Feel free to send any comments or complaints to news@soccersam.com. James promises to read (but not to respond) to all of them.
