13Jan/150
10 Bold Predictions for 2015 MLS SuperDraft
While the MLS SuperDraft may not receive as much publicity as other drafts in American sports, it has the potential to produce the same amount of craziness on draft day. The 2014 edition of the draft saw Philadelphia trade up a single spot to select Andre Blake with the No. 1 pick. FC Dallas also took an unknown prospect with the sixth-overall pick. We can expect a few trades to go down Thursday in Philadelphia, but who goes where is still up in the air. With that in mind, we made 10 bold predictions about what will go down inside the Pennsylvania Convention Center Thursday afternoon. Begin Slideshow12Jan/150
5 Names to Look out for in 2015 MLS SuperDraft
On Thursday, Major League Soccer will welcome its latest crop of young talent to the league during the MLS SuperDraft in Philadelphia. While the 2015 draft class may not be as prolific as recent ones, it still has the potential to produce some quality players. Only five players inked Generation Adidas deals, which are handed out to college underclassmen by the league. But the five prospects do carry a ton of potential with them. Outside of the Generation Adidas players, who don't count against an MLS team's budget and receive grants to further their education, there are some talented college seniors in the draft pool as well who have the potential to make a big impact in 2015 for their respective clubs. Here is a look five names you should know heading into Thursday's MLS SuperDraft. Begin Slideshow11Jan/150
Remembering David Beckham’s Arrival at LA Galaxy
Eight years ago, Major League Soccer sent shock waves across the world when it announced the landmark signing of David Beckham from Real Madrid. In the years following the deal, it remains one of, if not the, most influential moments in league history. At the time of the acquisition, no one involved in the deal could've imagined the immense impact the Beckham deal and consequential Designated Player rule would have on the young American league. Although Beckham has not played in MLS since 2012, his impact on the league will be felt for decades, as MLS owes many things to the Manchester United legend. When Beckham joined up with the LA Galaxy in the summer of 2007, the club had already established itself among the league's elite thanks to two MLS Cup victories in 2002 and 2005. Despite those successes, the Galaxy needed something to reinvigorate the fanbase after finishing in fifth place in the Western Conference in 2006. New signings were expected to during the offseason, but no one expected Beckham to be the primary acquisition prior to the 2007 season. Beckham's Galaxy debut came against Chelsea in a friendly at the Home Depot Center on July 21, 2007. He made his first league appearance against D.C. ...10Jan/150
Sporting Park Listed as Best MLS Stadium Experience of 2014
Sporting Park, home of Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer, was listed as the best stadium experience in MLS in 2014, according to a study by Paul Swaney of Stadium Journey. The study graded the top 100 North American stadiums. The criteria included concessions, overall atmosphere, the neighborhood and accessibility. Sporting Park was No. 17 overall on the list. Over 2000 venues were critiqued in the report. SKC averaged just over 20,000 fans per game during the 2014 season, up two percent from a year ago, via Paul Kennedy of Soccer America Daily. The Portland Timbers' Providence Park was the next stadium at No. 18 overall and second among MLS venues. It was also the host of the 2014 MLS All-Star Game. Seattle Sounders' CenturyLink Field is ranked third in MLS and No. 34 on the top 100 list. The Sounders have the highest average attendance in the league at just under 43,000. BC Place, the Vancouver Whitecaps' home venue, was the fourth and final MLS stadium in the study. It was 90th overall. MLS may not have the highest quality of soccer in the world, but the league set a record for average attendance this year, via World Soccer Talk. The figure has increased ...9Jan/150
2015 MLS Mock Draft: First-Round Predictions and Full Selection Order
The 2015 installment of the Major League Soccer SuperDraft comes as the MLS welcomes in two new franchises, both of whom have intriguing decisions to make for Round 1. Orlando City SC and New York City FC have both already made waves in the public eye, as each secured a household name signing in their first few weeks as a club. But Kaka and David Villa won't be able to do it alone for their new squads, as it will take some cunning work from front-office personnel to field a contending team off the bat. The MLS SuperDraft is an interesting proposition, only allowing football players hailing from the NCAA ranks to be eligible although there are clubs from Canada in the league. With that said, a number of top talents being courted by the European scene can sign Generation Adidas deals—geared toward keeping America's top talent in-house. The 2015 draft is right around the corner, set to begin on Jan. 15 at 12 p.m. ET in Philadelphia. Although it will span four whole rounds, let's take a look at who each club should target in Round 1. 1. Orlando City SC: Cyle Larin, F, Connecticut With top Canadian forward Cyle Larin signing a GA ...8Jan/150
Kobe Bryant of the Lakers Welcomes Steven Gerrard of the Galaxy to Los Angeles
Steven Gerrard has not arrived in Los Angeles yet, but he's already got a personal welcome from LA Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant."Welcome to La La Land," Kobe begins, before praising Gerrard's many skills on a football pitch and promising to come down to watch him play.Next time, Kobe will doubtless be inviting Stevie G and his family down to his house for tea and cake.[YouTube, LA Galaxy] Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com8Jan/150
New York-Based MLS Clubs Need to Get Their Acts Together
As the calendar was preparing to flip over to 2015, fans of both New York City FC and the New York Red Bulls carried a ton of optimism about the new Major League Soccer season. Eight days into the new year, all hell has broken loose at both clubs, which has caused the American soccer-viewing public to focus on both teams for all the wrong reasons. Just before NYCFC fans began to ring in the new year, they were handed the news about Frank Lampard's extended stay at parent club Manchester City. In the days following the official news about Lampard's playing status, many season-ticket holders were angered at the handling of the confusing mess regarding the English midfielder's actual contract status. Just as tensions were beginning to subside a bit on the blue half of New York's soccer landscape, the red part of the fanbase received some heartbreaking news. In the waning hours of Tuesday night, a report broke from Metro New York's Kristian Dyer about the job status of beloved manager Mike Petke. Less than 12 hours later, the Red Bulls confirmed the parting of ways between the club and the former defender. Red Bulls fans felt the same amount of outrage over the managerial switch ...8Jan/150
Gerrard Capable of Big Marketing and Goal Push in MLS
Former Liverpool star Steven Gerrard is joining the MLS. He can be an effective player immediately with L.A. Galaxy. How will Gerrard impact the game in America?Watch Bleacher Report's Alex Dimond and Ryan Bailey discuss Steven Gerrard's ability to make a big marketing and goal-scoring push in the U.S. Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com7Jan/150
Jozy Altidore: Latest Updates on Sunderland Striker’s Possible MLS Return
Updates from Thursday, Jan. 8 The New York Red Bulls are not willing to spend the money to bring back Jozy Altidore to the club, according to Doug McIntyre of ESPN. McIntyre claims that Altidore is seeking an annual salary of around $5 million to $6 million. However, the pressing issue is the transfer fee, which definitely won't be cheap. Toronto FC head coach Greg Vanney revealed that the club will try to sign the American international, per Kurtis Larson of the Toronto Sun. Meanwhile, Portland Timbers owner Merritt Paulson admitted that the club is monitoring Altidore, via Jamie Goldberg of The Oregonian. It appears as if TFC and the Timbers will be the front-runners to sign Altidore. Both ownership groups will be aggressive during the offseason after the two clubs failed to qualify for the 2014 playoffs. Original Text Sunderland forward and U.S. international Jozy Altidore is interested in returning to MLS, per ESPN's Taylor Twellman: Twellman claims that three teams are keen on signing Altidore. Toronto FC, Portland Timbers and his old club—the New York Red Bulls—are the potential suitors. Altidore has yet to score in 11 Premier League appearances this season. He has just one league goal since joining Sunderland last year, via ESPN FC. However, the ...7Jan/150