2014 MLS Thread

[shermanator]

Okay so might as well get this rolling. Here's some of what's happening so far:

Vancouver have let go of head coach Martin Rennie after they failed to make the playoffs. Currently have yet to replace him while former US MNT manager Bob Bradley has turned them down, Jason Kries has signed on with NYC FC, and Frank Yallop landed in Chicago.

They currently only have one goaltender under contract, David Ousted, and Camilo is rumoured to be pursued by Rosenborg in the Norweigan League. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/articl...out-camilo-san

Montreal have let go of head coach Marco Schallibaum go. Nesta is gone and their backline could be in trouble this year

Toronto FC looks like the stable club with a coach entering his second season.

They also have signed Brazillian striker Gilberto to a Designated Player contact. He was 6th in scoring in Brazil's First Divison last year. Looks like a good move to bolster their atrocious forward ranks http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/toron...iker-gilberto/

Stefan Frei has been traded to Seattle and it looks like he will be their #1 keeper in 2014.

Portland has picked up Steve Zakuani http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/timbe...e-entry-draft/


andddddd GO

[Montana Moe]

MLS All-Star Game is in Portland on August 6. The All-Stars will be facing a little squad from Germany called Bayern Munich.

Assuming I can get tickets, I picked a good year to move back!

Along with the Andrew Jean-Baptiste trade to Chivas that led to the Zakuani deal, Portland traded MF Sal Zizzo to KC for allocation funds.

I'm excited for next season, and it's right around the corner! Portland won't sneak up on anyone in 2014, should be a challenging year.

[Cheese]

Toronto FC has landed one of its big off-season targets in Brazilian striker Gilberto.

http://www.tsn.ca/soccer/story/?id=438899

[Nuje]

Originally Posted by Montana Moe

MLS All-Star Game is in Portland on August 6. The All-Stars will be facing a little squad from Germany called Bayern Munich.

Assuming I can get tickets, I picked a good year to move back!

Along with the Andrew Jean-Baptiste trade to Chivas that led to the Zakuani deal, Portland traded MF Sal Zizzo to KC for allocation funds.

I'm excited for next season, and it's right around the corner! Portland won't sneak up on anyone in 2014, should be a challenging year.

Incredible news. I have a couple friends who are big Munich fans. If we can get tickets, we'll be down.

[mac_82]

Seattle is now my #2 team with Frei. He got a rough ride in Toronto at the end.

[shermanator]

I'm reading on Twitter that Carl Robinson has been named the Whitecaps next head coach.

[The Big Chill]

That seemed likely after other candidates have found other jobs.

I'm happy with that appointment, as long as they are committed to giving him time.

[Matty81]

I am really hoping for Canadian soccer that TFC scrapes themselves off the canvas this year, this article about Gilberto is a little scary though:
http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/what-...lian-gilberto/
They've also basically created another hole on the wing by not re-signing Convey and while I like Defoe, a 10 million transfer fee and 150K a week wages if those are true are just desperate.

[browna]

I am guessing Vancouver will have an easier time finding a coach then Montreal.

As I said last year here, the Saputos seem to want to emulate the European experience off the field. That means the drama, backroom politics and supporter/ultras coffee shop discussion of coaches, tactics etc, like from the old homeland in Serie A.

Whoever it is will be the third coach in 3 years of MLS.

[shermanator]

Frank Klopas has been hired as Montreal's head coach. Third in 3 years.

http://www.tsn.ca/soccer/mls/story/?id=439297

[seattleflamer]

Originally Posted by browna

I am guessing Vancouver will have an easier time finding a coach then Montreal.

As I said last year here, the Saputos seem to want to emulate the European experience off the field. That means the drama, backroom politics and supporter/ultras coffee shop discussion of coaches, tactics etc, like from the old homeland in Serie A.

Whoever it is will be the third coach in 3 years of MLS.

Robinson feels like a sideways move though I don't think they were far off last year and he's a player's favorite. He could be the Caleb Porter of 2014.

For their brand, I was impressed they tried to get Bob Bradley. The problem was a lowball offer of high 6, low 7's for a 2 time national team coach who has won MLS, won the HEX, the Gold Cup and his group in a World Cup. It reeks of not understanding the market beyond MLS.

[shermanator]

Dwayne de Rosario is back in Toronto.

Toronto FC‏@torontofc1h
#TFClive News: Reds select @dwaynederosario in the MLS Re-Entry Process Stage Two. Pending MLS approval. #TorontoFC

Nana Attakora was picked up by DC United in the same draft.

[Cheese]

Gilberto, Defoe and DeRo should help alleviate some of the scoring issues TFC had. Now can they play defence. Will see if Justin Morrow can help that end.

[mac_82]

DeRo isn't the player he once was.

But he is still a fan favourite, a home town boy, has won everything there is to win in MLS, and will be a great mentor for the younger guys on the team.

[Jimmy Stang]

So there are rumours swirling that Camilo is headed to the Mexican league. He's still under contract in Vancouver, and apparently wants a pay raise, and this could be part of the leveraging. This would be quite a blow to Vancouver's squad, even if they are compensated handsomely. I can't imagine that the MLS would like to see him leave the league either. Whitecaps are so far denying everything.

The next day or two will be interesting to say the least.

[Montana Moe]

Even though he's a terror on a rival club, I hate to see talent leave the league. I hope they find a way to keep him.

[shermanator]

Looks like Camilo's agent initiated the situation - saying that he was out of contract and available on a free transfer. Oops - guess the club extended his option....

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/articl...camilo-was-out-

Good for the Whitecaps to keep their best player, and potentially good for the national team if the long shot of him getting a passport and joining is doable.

[Jimmy Stang]

A bit of a silly tactic by the agent. Sure, you want to get some leverage where you can, and I'd even argue that Camilo is worth more than he's currently getting paid. But this just makes the agent look like he's out to lunch and unaware of his client's contract, which is... kind of important.

I guess that Camilo could just not report to training camp, but from what I understand, he wouldn't be able to play anywhere else until his contract is up at the end of the 2014 season anyway. I can't help but wonder what the relationship between the agent, Camilo, and management is like, both before this and after. If it is sour, will we see him shipped off somewhere while he still has value? Or will the Caps go to great lengths to secure his services in earnest?

[Jimmy Stang]

So the official Queretaro Twitter account just posted a "welcome" to Camilo and a photo of him club jersey. This is going to get really messy.

http://www.soccerbyives.net/2014/01/...queretaro.html and https://twitter.com/Club_Queretaro

I can only assume that the MLS and the Whitecaps are going to do everything they can to prevent this as it would set a very dangerous precedent if compensation was not massive.

[The Big Chill]

Man I hope they manage to hang on to him. It seems weird that Camilo would be so ansy to leave, but maybe he's getting a bigger contract offer.