Montreal Impact: 6 Reasons to Pay Attention to the MLS Expansion Club

It's officially the MLS offseason, and that means once again the addition of a new club to the league—ladies and gentlemen, give a warm welcome to the Montreal Impact. The Impact have been battling in North America's lower leagues for almost two decades, but they're now ready to take on the big boys of MLS in 2012.Expansion teams haven't had too much success in their debut seasons in MLS history, but after an exciting couple of weeks in their first MLS offseason, the Impact seem serious at making a statement next year.Why should you care? Here are six reasons to pay attention to this up-and-coming expansion team.Begin Slideshow

MLS Relocation: 4 Teams That Need to Find a New Home

With MLS attendance hitting an all-time high in 2011, it is evident that Don Garber and company have found some terrific new expansion areas that are obsessed with the global sport. While these vibrant and terrific new fan bases have helped bring some fantastic attention to the MLS, they have also highlighted the struggling teams who can't seem to keep up with the rest of the league.Just this past week rumors circulated throughout the MLS world about a possible DC United move to Baltimore, as Don Garber looks to get rid of the weaker franchises in favor of more attractive ones. What weak franchises am I talking about? Click through to see the teams on the hot seat. Begin Slideshow

MLS Playoffs: Western Bracket Quarterfinal Previews

It's that time of year again, folks! November Madness is back and better than ever with a redesigned playoff format that has many Americans scratching their heads while New Yorkers breathe a sigh of relief.After a mid-week pair of Wild Card games, the MLS Playoff Quarterfinals have arrived and there are certainly some appetizing matchups. If you are interested in a Western Conference bracket preview, you have come to the right place!Enjoy!Begin Slideshow

MLS: Top 5 Consequences of a Potential Beckham Departure

It seems like it was just yesterday David Beckham graced our American television screens for the first time in an MLS uniform, injecting astronomical amounts of hope into the bloodstream of a somewhat small US Soccer fan base.And yet today, the MLS must finally accept the fact that the Beckham experiment is almost over and that the revolutionary legend could be out of the US sooner than any of us may like. With interest from European clubs such as Tottenham, PSG, and Leicester City, the odds of Beckham extending his MLS contract are looking slimmer every day.But how painful would the departure of Beckham be to the league that has invested so much into his presence? Here are the Top Five Consequences the MLS would face if such a departure occurred. Enjoy!Begin Slideshow

MLS: Analyzing the Eastern Conference Playoff Race

With just a few weeks left in the MLS season, the race for the final playoff spots is now in full force, as teams from all across the nation battle for a bid into the postseason tournament.The Eastern Conference race is especially competitive, with six teams all still in contention to win the conference come late October.However, some teams have an easier route to the playoffs than others, and that is why I have analyzed the current situation for each of the competitive teams.Who will take home the Eastern Conference crown? Click through to see. Begin Slideshow

MLS: Ranking the Top 20 Goals in League History

After one of the most golazo-infested MLS seasons of all time, I thought it would be appropriate to rate some of this year's best against some of the classics. If you are ready for some net-ripping, upper 90 firecrackers, I suggest you click through this slideshow. If not, it is a wonder why you are still reading this introduction. Well, without further ado, here are the Top 20 MLS goals of all time. Grab some popcorn and enjoy!Begin Slideshow

Robbie Keane Report Card: Rating His LA Galaxy Performance So Far

Welcome back to school, Robbie Keane!It has only been five weeks since the Irish legend made his much-anticipated move to Hollywood.That is just enough time for me to give a friendly Report Card and grade his impact so far with the Galaxy.I will analyze each of his classes (Economics, Individuality, Public Speaking) and determine whether or not his transfer has been successful.Well, without further a do, here is Robbie Keane’s first month Report Card.  Begin Slideshow

MLS: Winners and Losers of the Summer Transfer Window

The transfer window is over and it is time to recap some of the highs and lows of the summer opening.Last year we saw big names like Thierry Henry and Rafa Marquez come to the states to pave the way for some more big European names.  From Torsten Frings to Robbie Keane, a recap of the last two months is below for you to observe.  Enjoy!Begin Slideshow

MLS Signs with NBC: Putting the Heroic Day in Perspective

Wow, what a day for American soccer!There is no question that the contract announcement between NBC and the MLS this morning was a great moment for the beautiful game in America. In case you missed it, I suggest you take a look at the win-win situation that occurred earlier in the day here. As NBC hopes to emerge once again as a powerhouse sports station, the MLS gets even more coverage on a high-profile cable network. With today being called a heroic one in MLS history, I decided to look at the numbers and actually see how important this deal is. You won’t believe what I found.To some people’s displeasure, the MLS’ move to NBC Sports also meant the death of their FSC telecasts and the newly born Soccer Night in America. However, upon looking at the impact between the national reach of the two stations, nobody really should be complaining about the move.Last year FSC reached approximately 37 million US homes while Versus (NBC Sports Network) reached roughly 74 million. That is twice as much exposure for the MLS and is bound to increase MLS TV ratings dramatically.More viewers? Check.The MLS/NBC contract also means that there will be more nationally ...

MLS: 5 Figures from USL/NASL Who Can Make the Jump

After it was announced that Carolina Railhawks coach Martin Rennie would be taking over the Whitecaps at the start of next season, I got to thinking who else from America’s secondary leagues (USL Pro and NASL) could make the switch and lock down a job in the MLS.We have seen a number of players do it, from Osvaldo Alonso to Lamar Neagle, and of course coaches now make the change once every few years. With all that in mind, here is a list of five figures who are due for a promotion in the upcoming months.  Luke MulhollandTeam: Wilmington Hammerheads (USL)Age: 22In his first professional season, the young Englishman has notched nine goals and four assists and is the USL Pro MVP favorite heading into the home stretch. He picks apart defenses with his passing ability and could be a good pickup for any team that is weak in the Central Midfield department. Also at 22 years old, he has plenty of years to develop into an MLS starter. Jason YeisleyTeam: Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL)Age: 24Now I know FC Dallas fans might not think much of this kid, but the man is putting together a pretty good season down in Pittsburgh. Yeisley leads ...