STADIUMS: Dynamo Stadium Moves Forward

According to this Sports Business Journal article, things have advanced enough in Houston that AEG is selecting a designer for the Dynamo stadium.


Note: The picture is not, repeat NOT a proposed Dynamo stadium design. It is the proposed, 30,000 seat Astana stadium in Kazakhstan. We just thought it was cool and about the right size for the Dynamo faithful. Every Houston Dynamo playoff game at home last year drew over 30K. Houston fans, what do you think?

INCOMING: Rohan Ricketts, Laurent Robert to Toronto FC?

Rating: 4 (Good)

Actual Players to Toronto FC? Could it be? Or will this series of trials end like the last ones, which saw among others Kiki Musampa, and Joao Pinto fly back across the pond with no commitment to the Ontario club, and Toronto left searching for more.


The Footy Show blog at The Score is breaking all kinds of news on an otherwise quiet day here at MLSR.



Name: Laurent Robert

Age: 32
Position: Winger
Clubs he played for: Paris Saint-Germain, Newcastle Unted, SL Benfica, Portsmouth,
Currently with: Derby County

Name: Rohan Ricketts


Age:25
Position: Midfielder
Clubs he played for: Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Coventry City, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Queens Park Rangers
Currently with: Barnsley


Additionally, The Footy Blog mentions that Amado Guevara is still in the mix well.


Here''s video of Rickets and Robert in action:

Ricketts

Laurent Robert

UPDATE: Bruno Marioni to Chivas USA

Updating on an earlier post: On the XM Satellite Radio channel XM Deportivo's "El Deportivo del Domingo" (co-hosted by Ricardo Mayorga, German Fernandez Moores and Luis Felipe Lopez), the hosts mentioned that Bruno Marioni had indeed been in talks with Chivas USA owners but that he would remain at Atlas until the end of the season. The hosts hinted at a very real possibility that Marioni may indeed be on his way to the MLS team at the end of the Mexican soccer season. They also said that officials would "make no further comments" on the matter besides the fact that "they were in talks."

NOTCOMING: Bruno Marioni to CD Chivas USA

The off again/on again talks between Argentine forward Bruno Marioni currently with Atlas, and MLS appear to be off again, for now. According to this report in Medio Tempo, Marioni is/was in talks with Chivas USA but appears to prefer to stay at Atlas, again, for now.

There's more in English on this blog.

Football. Fútbol. Soccer. Get Ready For Kick Off - 2008 MLS Opening Day Stories

And the new MLS advert in case you haven't seen it elsewhere online, you will:

It's just hours away from the first kick of the 2008 MLS season.

So get a seat on a comfortable couch and get your remote control (and check out Direct Kick, it's free this weekend on all carriers) kick back and watch history unfold.

While other blogs have busied themselves with predictions and power rankings, we thought we'd present you with several story lines to follow this weekend:

SATURDAY

Toronto FC at Columbus - 2,200+ Crazy Canadians are going to make their presence known

Chicago at Real Salt Lake - So many story lines with this match up: How will RSL's foreign imports perform, Will "Dr Goal" start, and if he does, will he score? Will Wilman Conde play or is he in the doghouse already? The beginning of the Dennis Hamlett era. Blanco.

Houston at New England - The 2007 MLS Cup rematch (duh!)

DC United at Kansas City - Battle of the new Designated Players and former Argentine National teammates, Marcello Gallardo vs Claudio Lopez.

LA Galaxy at Colorado - Ruud Gullit's squad in their first league match. How will Beckham perform at altitude? How will Christian Gomez perform with his new team? What kind of suit will Fernando Clavijo be sporting?

SUNDAY

CD Chivas USA at FC Dallas - Will the leaders of the West in 2007 go on to repeat the feat? How good is Dallas's new Mexican defender, Duilio Davino and Brazilian Andre Rocha? Will Arturo Alvarez and Brazilian Ricardinho begin this year even better than last?

With lots of stuff to watch for, who says MLS is boring? Answer: Not too many anymore.

TRADE:Chivas trade John Cunliffe for Chris Pozniak

Rating: 5

On the eve of MLS's 2008 season opening day, Chivas makes a trade.

According to American Soccer Reader, CD Chivas USA have traded English forward John Cunliffe (left) for San Jose's Canadian defender, Chris Pozniak(right):

"John Cunliffe was acquired in the ‘07 draft and comes from Bolton, England. The young player filled in for Ante Razov and Maykel Galindo late in the season when both strikers were struck with injury. In the ‘08 preseason, he has played several roles, including central and left midfield. This trade will definitely benefit the Earthquakes as they try to build their squad.

This move seems to be in response to the recent injury of Alex Zotinca. The right back may not play this season after he tore the MCL of his right knee earlier this month."

NOTCOMING: Toronto Turned Down as Kevin Gall Says No

Kevin Gall has turned down a move to MLS outfit Toronto FC. The Welsh born-forward has been on trial in the Canadian capital and he impressed Toronto's management, led by former Newcastle coach John Carver.

Toronto already have a strong British presence in their squad, with current Welsh international Carl Robinson and English striker Danny Dichio plying their trade with the Canadian club. Gall was offered terms by the MLS, but he rejected the deal on offer.

"It was just a case of us not agreeing terms," his agent Wayne Elsey revealed.
"Kevin was keen to go and he did very well, but we could not finalise the move."
Gall, who recently spent time at promotion chasing League Two outfit Darlington, is now back with Carlisle United.

The 26-year-old has over a year left on his current deal at Brunton Park, but his future looks to lie away from Cumbria. "A host of clubs are keen on Kevin and we hope to have his future resolved at the end of the season," confirmed Elsey.

NOTCOMING: Guevara

This morning on XM Satelite Radio's XM Deportivo (Channel 147), the hosts (Alejandro Blanco, Arley Londoño and Gerardo Villa) mentioned that Amado Guevara was definitely not coming to Toronto FC because the salary being offered was significantly less than that with his current club, Motagua of Honduras. In fact, the figure they divulged was an offer of $4,500 per month while the Honduran side pays him 15,000 per month. This is an interesting problem since it raises the question of base salaries in a league that's increasingly spending more money on their personnel (designated players come to mind). Hopefully they will be raising the minimum league wage soon. That may also keep some of our young talent here for at least a season or too before they hitch a ride to the more lucrative fields of European football.

As a side note, wasn't Guevara the league MVP at one point? Surely he would deserve a more tempting financial offer.

CARTOON: The Insanity Has Only Begun

We at MLSR are introducing a new feature.

Friday cartoons, summing up a story of the week courtesy of our resident cartoonist.

Please welcome the work of Courtney Randall.

Story of the Week: Toronto Makes Itself At Home in Columbus
Official story here.

REPORT: Conde Demands Out of Chicago Part 2

After word got around the press that a certain Colombian defender wanted to leave Chicago and rejoin the manager who brought him to the league at Red Bull New York, there was a storm of controversy.

Things aren't easy in Chicago. And this afternoon Luis Arroyave informs us on his Red Card Blog at the Chicago Tribune, that Chicago defender Wilman Conde is taking his unhappiness in Chicago beyond the press since according to Conde,""[The Fire] wont let me to talk to the media."
As such his dissatisfaction is being directed else and his protest taken to the next level: The Lockeroom. Read more about it here.

RSL Negotiating Stadium Name Rights

Within six months the scheduled opening of Real Salt Lake's stadium in Sandy is expected. Owner Dave Checketts has revealed that RSL are in negotiations with three major corporate sponsors who are interested in naming rights to the stadium.

Having already turned down two undervalued offers, Checketts said he's talking with one national company and two local companies about branding their name and logo all over the $110 million stadium.

"The company that steps in here is going to get enormous coverage, but they have to be comfortable that we're going to deliver on our promise," Checketts said. "I'm not in a rush, but before we open it up I'd sure love to have a name on it."

Real Salt Lake is seeking a contract of around 10 years, and asking about $1.5 million to $2 million per year. The four most recent teams to build soccer specific stadiums are bringing in an average of $1.6 million for naming rights. The high is BMO Financial Group which is paying $2.7 million per season to name Toronto FC's stadium BMO Field. Toyota Park in Chicago is the low at $750,000 per year. Dicks Sporting Goods is paying $2 million a year for naming rights on the Denver stadium, while Pizza Hut is paying $1.25 million per year in Dallas.

"I'd prefer it would be a consumer brand, something that meant something to the people. And that's not an attack on EnergySolutions, but they don't even sell to consumers, so why would they name a building like that?" Checketts stated. "The reason is obviously to help their political and other clout, and we may find somebody like that before it's all over."

REPORT: Philadelphia Has Already Sold 3,400 Season Tickets

According to this report, Philadelphia's, as-yet-unnamed, MLS club has already sold 3,400 season tickets (18% of stadium capacity) for a team that was only announced one month ago, which has had no advertising or marketing thus far, and which will not begin play until 2010. This follows a recent trend which started with the introduction of Toronto which sold out of all available season tickets well before opening day both in their inaugural year, and this season as well. Likewise, Seattle has put up strong early numbers and has at last count sold close to 13,500 season tickets for a team still without a name, crest, official manager or player, and which will not take the pitch until the 2009 season. Great news Philly, keep it going. These recent additions to the league prove that the sport is rising in popularity in the US and Canada.

REPORT: CONCACAF Champions League Canadian Qualification Dates Announced

While MLS and George Gillet talk about Montreal joining Major League Soccer, the two soon to be rivals, Impact de Montreal and Toronto FC are set to square off along with their west coast brethren, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, in a tournament to see who will represent Canada in the Champions League.

Canadian Qualifier Announced for 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League

CONCACAF along with the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) announced today details of the qualifying tournament for Canada’s entry to the inaugural 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League.

Canada's three professional clubs, the Impact de Montreal, Toronto FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, will play a home-and-away round-robin tournament from May to July 2008. The winner will progress to the Preliminary Round of the 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League to be held in August 2008.

“We are very pleased that the Canadian Soccer Association has developed a professional club qualifying tournament to the inaugural CONCACAF Champions League,” said CONCACAF General Secretary Chuck Blazer. “We are confident that the qualifying tournament will contribute to the ongoing growth of soccer in Canada and serve as excellent preparation for Canada's representative in the CONCACAF Champions League."

CSA Club Qualifying Tournament Schedule
27 May: Impact de Montreal vs. Toronto FC at Montréal’s Stade Saputo
17 June: Impact de Montreal vs. Vancouver Whitecaps at Stade Saputo
25 June: Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Impact de Montreal at Vancouver’s Swangard Stadium
1 July: Toronto FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps at Toronto’s BMO Field
9 July: Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Toronto FC at Swangard Stadium
22 July: Toronto FC vs. Impact de Montreal at BMO Field

The new CONCACAF Champions League will be comprised of 24 teams drawn from across the CONCACAF's region. The tournament will feature three Caribbean teams, the most in any CONCACAF international club competition to date; four teams each from Mexico and USA; two clubs each from Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama; and one representative from each of Canada, Belize, and Nicaragua.

Eight clubs (two from Mexico, USA and one from Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama) will be seeded directly to the Group Stage of the CONCACAF Champions League. Sixteen teams will be paired in eight home-and-away match-ups in the Preliminary Round which will take place from 26-28 August 2008 and 2-4 September 2008.

The Preliminary Round winners will join the eight seeded teams in the Group Stage that consists of four groups of four teams each. Each team will play two matches (one home, one away) against each of the other teams in its group, in a round-robin system, from 16 September 2008 – 30 October 2008.

The top two clubs from each of the four groups will advance to the Elimination Stage of the CONCACAF Champions League. These eight teams will be drawn into four Quarterfinal pairings to play home-and-away match-ups in February 2009. The four Quarterfinal winners will then play in two Semifinal home-and-away match-ups in March and April 2009 with the two Semifinal winners squaring-off in the home-and-away CONCACAF Champions League Final in late April 2009.

The CONCACAF Champions League winner will qualify as the CONCACAF’s representative to the 2009 edition of the FIFA Club World Cup.

2008-09 CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – Calendar of Events
2008
June: Draw for Stage 1 – Preliminary Round
26-28 August: Preliminary Round – Game 1
2-4 September: Preliminary Round – Game 2
Early September: Draw for Stage 2 – Group Stage
16-18 September: Group Stage – Game 1
23-25 September: Group Stage – Game 2
30 September – 2 October: Group Stage – Game 3
7-9 October: Group Stage – Game 4
21-23 October: Group Stage – Game 5
28-30 October: Group Stage – Game 6
Early November – Draw for Stage 3 – Elimination Round

2009
24-26 February: Quarterfinal, Game 1
3-5 March: Quarterfinal, Game 2
17-19 March: Semifinal, Game 1
7-9 April: Semifinal, Game 2
21-23 April: Final, Game 1
28-30 April: Final, Game 2
December: FIFA Club World Cup

More News On Henry Transfer

As was stated on MLSR yesterday about the chances of Thierry Henry moving to Seattle, more light has been shed on this plausible rumor.

Firstly, Arsenal's record goalscorer has always talked of his love for America and how he would like to live here during the twilight of his career. That twilight could be happening sooner than anyone imagined as Henry has had an awfully poor season with Barcelona. What has been missing is the fans love of Henry. At Barca he is not the darling of the supporters like he was at Arsenal. A move to MLS could rekindle this. He would be loved by fans and pundits alike all over the country. Unlike Beckham, Henry is the kind of player who will really excite fans. His goals, skills and all-round play would bring much more playing-wise to MLS than Becks ever could.

But who would pay the whopping fee that would go with Henrys arrival to the States. Well, if anyone has the amount of money which would be needed, it's Paul Allen, one of the new Seattle franchise's principal owners. Allen would see an immediate return on his money as Henry would surely help fill the stands for Seattle.

The major stumbling block which can be taken from this rumor is Henrys relationship with his estranged wife and daughter. Would he be able to uproot them from London to Seattle? He hasn't been able to move them to Barcelona, however this could be used as an excuse for his poor performances throughout the season.

REPORT: CONCACAF Slaps Deportivo Saprissa With $15K Fine, Warns Them About Houston Match

Our view is that in light of events, Saprissa got off with a slap on the wrist. Had this happened in any other confederation their stadium would have been banned for the next match vs Houston. CONCACAF has proven once again why they are not respected among many in the US and Mexico.

Saprissa fined $15,000 for fan behavior, given warning for match against Houston

2008-03-26 23:25:07 -

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) - CONCACAF fined three-time Costa Rican league champion Saprissa US$15,000 (€9,550) for the behavior of its fans, who pelted the field with coins and other debris during last week's Champions Cup match against Mexico's Atlante.
Saprissa won the March 20 match 3-0 to advance to the semifinals, where it will face the Houston Dynamo. At least one Atlante player apparently was hit by the debris. A Saprissa official implored the club's supporters to behave because another incident could result in a ban of its home stadium for CONCACAF play. Team vice president Mariano Varela _ on the club's Web site _ described the fine as «the lesser of two evils. «It is without doubt a strong punishment,» he said, «but fortunately it wasn't a playing ban or playing in front of an empty stadium.

"We want to call on all our fans to behave appropriately in the stands", Varela said, adding "the match against the Houston Dynamo on April 9 will be a real acid test. They've warned us, the next time the stadium will be banned."

CONCACAF said Saprissa should increase the security measures for the Dynamo match, if it does not, it will face much more severe sanctions.

INCOMING: Thierry Henry to Seattle (Sounders) FC in 2009?

Rating: 3 (Possible)
"I was told that the Seattle franchise is in advanced negotiations with Thierry Henry." Steve Cohen - World Soccer Daily 3/26/2008

Audio Here

EXPANSION: Liverpool Owner Plans "Montreal FC" Entry

Rating: 4 (Good)


According to this French language report in Canada, one of Liverpool FC's owners, George Gillett is looking to leapfrog several other cities vying for expansion. This would be a move that would certainly doom St Louis's hopes for the next MLS expansion. According to the article a group made up of George Gillett and the Saputo family, owners of the USL, Montreal Impact on March 12th, drafted a letter to MLS Commissioner Don Garber and President Mark Abbott asserting their readiness to expand the brand new, yet to be opened, Saputo Stadium to 20,000 seats and meet MLS standards. It has long been known Saputo was interested in MLS but this is the first time our rumor of George Gillett being involved has been confirmed.

English translation below:

According to information's collected by the Press, the new team, if it is born, will be called Montreal FC and will evolve/move at the Saputo Stage, in the shade of the tower of the Olympic Stage. The cost of the frankness is evaluated to 30 US million, of which the half would be versed in capital by the two partners.

To fulfill the requirements of the league, the capacity of the Saputo Stage, which will be inaugurated on next 19 May, would pass from 13 000 to 20 000 places thanks to an investment of 12 US million Gillett and Saputo.

In a draft letter to the leaders of the MLS, March 12, 2008, Mr. Saputo and the president of the Canadian and Group Spectacles Gillett, Pierre Boivin, make the point that "Montreal has already solids foundations" which woul