MLS off season Truths and Rumors

papa5murf · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 7:24 pm

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D.C. player's international interest
Posted: Friday November 30, 2007 07:12AM ET

As for Christian Gomez and his negotiations with D.C. United, last spring's offer for two guaranteed years has apparently become a one-year guaranteed package. No one directly involved in the talks is willing to discuss the particulars. However, well-connected sources tell me that Gomez has also drawn interest from clubs in Asia, Argentina and, most recently, Mexico. I'm told that he would like to stay in MLS, but if the money and guarantees are not there, he will weigh his options. Expect a resolution, one way or the other, by mid-December.

papa5murf · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 7:25 pm

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Rapids veteran to discuss return
Posted: Friday November 30, 2007 07:10AM ET

MLS veteran Tony Sanneh is meeting with Colorado Rapids officials today to determine whether he will return to the club next season. Sanneh, 36, appeared in nine games late in the season (five starts).

papa5murf · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 7:26 pm

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MLS to allow more foreign players
Posted: Friday November 30, 2007 07:07AM ET

I am hearing that the USSF has approved an MLS proposal that will allow each club to have eight foreign players with no age restrictions. An announcement is expected in the coming weeks. Don't expect a sudden surge of foreign talent to land on our shores anytime soon -- the meager salary cap will take care of that -- but at least now the clubs have the flexibility of discovering moderately priced foreigners of any age.

papa5murf · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 7:27 pm

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D.C. United on verge of big signing
Posted: Thursday November 29, 2007 09:39AM ET

Goal.com has received word that Argentine midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron will sign with D.C. United when his contract with Estudiantes de la Plata ends in December. Veron would be the biggest signing by the club since Marco Etcheverry came aboard in 1996.

papa5murf · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 7:28 pm

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Chivas coach on Red Bulls list
Posted: Tuesday November 27, 2007 06:42AM ET

Chivas USA Coach Preki is a candidate for the vacant coaching job with the New York Red Bulls. Preki won the MLS coach-of-the-year award after guiding Chivas USA to its most successful season (15-7- Cool

in his first year as a head coach. The New York club, which paid Bruce Arena $1.2 million to buy out the remaining two years of his coaching contract this month, requested permission from Chivas and talked to Preki during the MLS Cup two weeks ago. However, published reports indicate New York's first choice for the job is Chicago Fire Coach Juan Carlos Osorio, a former New York assistant. But the Red Bulls were denied permission to talk to Osorio.

papa5murf · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 7:30 pm

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Latest on Parkhurst-Fulham rumor
Posted: Saturday November 24, 2007 09:16AM ET

One of the more intriguing rumors to surface at MLS Cup was word that New England defender Michael Parkhurst was set to make a move to Fulham, making him the fifth American on the books at the London club. So is he leaving or not? None of the Boston papers have reported anything substantial and neither have any of the reputable papers in England. The closest thing to confirmation at this point is the fact that someone (an overzealous Fulham fan perhaps) has already changed Michael Parkhurst's Wikipedia page to read that he's now a Fulham player (at least that's what it said before some childish individual changed it shortly after my post).

papa5murf · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 7:30 pm

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Emilio negotiating with D.C. United
Posted: Friday November 23, 2007 06:24AM ET

No truth to the Honduran media reports that Luciano Emilio is about to leave D.C. United. The club exercised the option on his contract for 2008 and, unless a massive offer from overseas lands on Kevin Payne's desk, he's not going anywhere. That said, his agent, Alexander Solis, said that he and the club have begun discussions about a pay raise. "We're talking right now, trying to get something done. Talks continue," he said. "He wants to stay in D.C. He loves D.C."

papa5murf · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 7:31 pm

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Galaxy trade in the works?
Posted: Friday November 23, 2007 06:30AM ET

Don't be surprised to hear about trades being made in the coming days. Galaxy defender Troy Roberts might be on the move, perhaps to San Jose.

papa5murf · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 7:31 pm

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Red Bulls deal Mathis to San Jose
Posted: Wednesday November 21, 2007 06:07AM ET

With a big salary that didn't translate into production, Clint Mathis was convinced he was headed to San Jose in the Major League Soccer Expansion Draft. As it turned out, Mathis will be headed to California, but a couple of hours north of where he thought he'd be. The Red Bulls traded Mathis yesterday to the Los Angeles Galaxy for a third-round pick in the 2008 SuperDraft. Mathis, who said at the end of the season he expects offers less than the $270,000 base salary he made this year, would have been left exposed in tomorrow's Expansion Draft and could have been claimed by the Earthquakes, who return to the league next season.

papa5murf · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 7:32 pm

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Reyna's Red Bulls future uncertain
Posted: Tuesday November 20, 2007 06:33AM ET

The Red Bulls face a difficult decision about Claudio Reyna, one of the team's two designated players. Reyna, a New Jersey native who had a long history with the former coach Bruce Arena, was hampered by injuries during his first season in MLS after a long career spent in England, Scotland and Germany. The club says it is committed to signing more high-profile players and is considering buying out the contract of Reyna, who was guaranteed $1.25 million in 2007.

papa5murf · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 7:32 pm

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Striker not leaving Red Bulls
Posted: Sunday November 18, 2007 07:23AM ET

Striker Jozy Altidore, who made his debut for the United States national team Saturday in a friendly against South Africa, is not leaving the Red Bulls. The Spanish newspaper AS reported Friday that Real Madrid was interested in Altidore, an 18-year-old Florida native whose parents are from Haiti. "We haven't heard from Real Madrid, but they would only be the latest team to contact us about Jozy," Marc de Grandpre, the team's managing director, said. "We just told the commissioner, Don Garber, and the other owners that we will not agree to any transfer involving Jozy. He's under contract, and we're going to keep him."

shaggy · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 7:36 pm

Jeez, could you not have posted them in the same post? Or at least all news on a club in one post??

Reynas a great player, forgot about him until now!

papa5murf · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 7:38 pm

^ I could, but need to get some action and hits in here. It's dead as can be. Just trying to get it started. Seeing a few posts in a thread will make people come in here as opposed to a thread with only one post. In the future I'll group them up though as they come in. Smile

papa5murf · Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 5:55 pm

6 December Rumors

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Red Bull player staying put
Posted: Thursday December 06, 2007 08:12AM ET

If you are a Red Bulls fan who was worried about Jozy Altidore leaving the Red Bulls for a move to Real Madrid this winter, you can relax. For now. Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon told media on Tuesday that Real Madrid will not bring in any new players during the winter transfer period.

papa5murf · Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 3:48 pm

7 December Rumors

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Sources: Colorado talking trade
Posted: Friday December 07, 2007 05:42AM ET

Sources tell me that Colorado has discussed trading veteran midfielder-defender Pablo Mastroeni this offseason. The latest scenario, I'm told, has him going to expansion San Jose. More details as we learn them. However, with almost two months until training camps open, there is no urgency in completing a potential deal.

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D.C. United deal not done -- yet
Posted: Friday December 07, 2007 05:45AM ET

Pay no attention to those breathless reports saying D.C. United has already finalized a deal with Juan Sebastian Veron. Here, according to a source close to the actual negotiations, is the latest word: "Things are moving in a positive direction."

smithy · Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 8:05 pm

I hope Veron does better for them than he did at Man Utd , total flop in my book.

papa5murf · Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 8:23 pm

smithy wrote:

I hope Veron does better for them than he did at Man Utd , total flop in my book.

D.C. United has been after him for a couple years now. I hope we do get him, he'll end up being our designated player. I'm sure he'll do well. Everyone that was a flop in the EPL tends to become a superstar over in the MLS because of the lower level of competition. Juan Pablo Angel being one of the breakout stars last year.

papa5murf · Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 2:00 am

8 December Rumors

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D.C. United player negotiations
Posted: Saturday December 08, 2007 07:53AM ET

I'm told negotiations between D.C United and Christian Gomez are not going well, dimming the prospect of him returning next season. Meantime, Jaime Moreno seems likely to return.

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Sources: Vet returning to Red Bulls
Posted: Saturday December 08, 2007 09:52AM ET

If you have been wondering about what Claudio Reyna's plans are for the 2008 season, it appears they involve playing for the Red Bulls. According to sources close to the team, it looks as if Reyna has every intention of returning to the Red Bulls in 2008 and playing out the remaining year on his MLS contract. The Red Bulls had been considering buying out Reyna's remaining year but it doesn't appear as if Reyna has any interest in being bought out. He has told teammates he plans on returning.

papa5murf · Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 7:13 pm

9 December Rumors

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Fire negotiating with goalie
Posted: Sunday December 09, 2007 09:48AM ET

Contract talks between the Fire and goalkeeper Matt Pickens continue. "Matt would like to be back with the Fire and we would like Matt to be back as well," Fire GM John Guppy said.

papa5murf · Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 11:36 pm

11 December Rumors

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D.C. United to trade Gomez?
Posted: Tuesday December 11, 2007 09:59AM ET

While negotiations have not gone well between Christian Gomez and D.C. United, I hear that at least one MLS club has expressed interest in trading for Gomez's rights. Gomez's contract expires at the end of the month, but under league guidelines, United would retain his MLS rights -- and have to be compensated (allocation money, draft picks?) by the other club. In this case, the trade would be contingent on Gomez signing a contract with his new team. Gomez's issue with United has been guaranteed years in a new contract. United has apparently offered one; Gomez wants at least two.

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Red Bulls closing in on coach
Posted: Tuesday December 11, 2007 10:01AM ET

New York is wrapping up its coaching search and, from what I'm told, is preparing to announce its choice this week. The assumption here -- and with everyone I've spoken to in MLS circles -- is that Juan Carlos Osorio is moving to the Meadowlands from Chicago. In which case, the Red Bulls would have to compensate the Fire.

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