Where Would an MLS Best XI Finish in the Premier League?

It has become tradition each summer that the MLS All-Stars face a top club from Europe. This match is always an entertaining affair. Last season, the MLS outfit beat Chelsea, 3-2, in a simmering contest.   Considering the MLS side and their success against one of the best teams in Europe, it is always a fun debate to discuss how an MLS best 11 side might fare in the English Premier League. Although there is no way to know for sure, after examining who would be on the team and how they would play, it is possible that an MLS best 11 would finish in the top eight. First things first, the coach of the team would have to be the American coaching legend, Bruce Arena.  Arena’s tactics have always been clear. He is a master at utilizing the strength of his players. The most dangerous part of this side would be the front-runners.Apologies to Chris Wondolowski, but the strike partnership of Thierry Henry and Robbie Keane is too appetizing to pass up. The pair has had success in spades in the Premier League and they are both playing at a high level for their respective clubs. Imagine the movement and runs these ...

Best and Worst of the MLS Weekend

Week 3 of MLS featured the first ever “Rivalry Weekend,” a weekend filled with fixtures dedicated entirely to the rivalries sprinkled throughout the league.  Overall, MLS deserves credit for creating a unique way to thank and acknowledge the passionate fans and groups that make the league tick.   In total, 17 goals were scored.  Of the nine matches, 67 percent ended with a draw (six).  No one player was the most prolific goalscorer on the weekend, as there were no multiple-goal efforts.  Two games, New York vs. D.C and Kansas City vs. Chicago, ended without a goal.  The most wild match of the weekend came in Texas, as FC Dallas let a two-goal lead evaporate, only to have it salvaged by Kenny Cooper’s controversial late winner.  A few themes emerged.  Here some of the best and worst, starting with the best.The Best: Rookies Make an Impact:  Three rookies got the first ever goals of their respective MLS careers, Deshorn Brown of the Colorado Rapids, Andrew Driver of the Houston Dynamo and Carlos Alvarez of Chivas USA.  Brown’s was the result of an innate striker’s anticipation, stripping a poor touch off Chris Schuler of Real Salt Lake and burying his solo effort. Driver blasted a ...

MLS Wrap: Portland vs. Seattle and the Rest of the Weekend’s Top Matches

The third weekend of MLS offers "Rivalry Day," the first-ever matchday dedicated specifically to the regional rivalries sprinkled throughout the league.Starting with the New York Red Bulls hosting D.C. United for an Atlantic Cup clash and finishing on Sunday with the SuperClasico between the Los Angeles Galaxy and Chivas USA, the weekend is full of appetizing matches. Arguably, the main event comes in the form of a Cascadia Cup clash between longtime foes, the Seattle Sounders and the Portland Timbers.  The Sounders are coming off an impressive 3-1 victory over Mexican side, Tigres UANL, in the CONCACAF Champions League.  The Timbers' last game was a loss at home at the hands of the Montreal Impact, 2-1.It should be a glorious weekend for the many supporters and passionate fans that make MLS tick.We start with the Red Bulls welcoming their neighbors to the south, D.C United.Begin Slideshow

U.S. Soccer: Tony Meola Talks Allstate Work, MLS Rivalry Week and U.S. Tactics

Tony Meola is a U.S. soccer legend—no question about it.  The New Jersey native was the starting goalkeeper for the U.S. national team's 1994 World Cup run and played many years thereafter in Major League Soccer for the MetroStars, the Kansas City Wizards and the New York Red Bulls.One of the best athletes in the University of Virginia's history, Meola played his college soccer for former U.S. national team head coach and curent L.A. Galaxy head coach, Bruce Arena.Meola's pure athleticism and fearlessness were key aspects in his success as a professional goalkeeper.  His presence for U.S. soccer was a critical part of the growth of the game in this country.  Along with the rest of his teammates during the 1994 World Cup, Meola and company set the stage for the start of MLS.Still involved in the game, Meola has teamed up with Allstate to bring his knowledge and legend to lucky groups of youth soccer players.  Currently visiting Seattle ahead of the Sounders' rivalry match with the Portland Timbers, Meola, alongside Allstate representatives, surprised some players on Seattle United.Meola dropped in on a practice session and provided a special “Good Hands® F.C." soccer clinic for the team.  Meola was in ...

MLS: 8 Things We Learned from the Weekend Games

Week 2 of MLS is in the books, and it did not help tip the scales in terms of which conference is superior, the East or the West.Of the six games played between teams from opposite conferences, there was an even spilt in terms of wins and losses—three wins for each respective coast. There were no ties this week; each game provided a winner. The highest-scoring team was Chivas USA. The Goats netted three times in their 3-1 victory over FC Dallas. This was also the only game won by more than a one-goal margin.Toronto FC's Robert Earnshaw was the leading scorer for the weekend. His brace helped secure the Reds' first three points of the season.The results leave two Canadian sides atop the standings. The Vancouver Whitecaps shifted into the top spot in the West with six points, as did the Montreal Impact in the East.Overall, it was a fun weekend that helped shed some light on the state of the league. Here are eight takeaways from the second week of MLS.Begin Slideshow

MLS: Complete Weekend Guide, Team News, Game-by-Game Predictions

Week two of MLS starts this Saturday with a 1:30 p.m. EST first whistle in Canada, with Toronto FC hosting Sporting Kansas City.  The weekend finishes with a 10:00 p.m. EST kickoff in California, as the San Jose Earthquakes face the New York Red Bulls.There are eight matches in total.Three teams are off from MLS play with this week because of their participation in the CONCACAF Champions League: Houston Dynamo, the Seattle Sounders and the Los Angeles Galaxy.The games this week should provide some excellent insight into the forever debated conversation about which MLS conference is superior—the Eastern conference, or the Western conference.  Six of the matches provide opposing conference matchups. Begin Slideshow

Top 10 Strikers to Watch in MLS This Season

Major League Soccer is stocked with brilliant and dangerous strikers. As MLS continues to grow in talent and reputation, goal scorers from across the world are flocking to the states to ply their trade in the 18-year-old league. This slideshow presents the top-10 strikers to watch this season and details what makes these specific soccer players so talented.It is a diverse list in terms of style, technique and ability.  Each striker offers various and different skills that make them unique.While there are other players who could be considered for inclusion, there is no doubt that the strikers selected are here worthy.  Simply put, these athletes are special.  Begin Slideshow