Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! &nbsp;With the Egyptian friendly canceled, it was a slow week in American soccer. &nbsp;MLS clubs are playing pre-season matches against youth clubs, colleges, and each other, and the season is less than one month away. &nbsp;Besides the schedule release last week, here are some other news items flying under the radar:
<ul>
<li>Real Salt Lake were the big winners this weekend as they acquired former Wake Forest striker Cody Arnoux in an MLS weighted lottery. &nbsp;Arnoux scored over 30 goals in his collegiate career and went overseas after graduation, playing for the Everton youth team and a bit in Scotland before spending last season with Vancouver. &nbsp;Because he was previously approached by MLS to sign before leaving for Europe, the contract he signed with Vancouver this offseason was voided, and he was placed in a weighted lottery. &nbsp;RSL may try and trade him to Vancouver, but if they keep him they could have a nice steal as Arnoux has some potential.</li>
<li>American international Eric Lichaj, who has not played for Aston Villa since December, was sent on a four-month loan to<a href="http:\/\/news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/leeds_united/9392812.stm" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> historic Leeds United</a> in the English second division. &nbsp;Leeds is battling for promotion and the chance to receive regular playing time on a good club can only help the rising American star.</li>
<li>Speaking of American internationals, Stuart Holden continues to impress in England. &nbsp;His free kick in the tenth minute led to Bolton’s first goal and he had a goal &nbsp;wrongly waived off at the end of the match. &nbsp;Holden is really asserting himself in England and making the case for playing time on the national team.</li>
<li>Fellow American international Jozy Altidore looked good in his Turkish debut; check out his moves in the video above. &nbsp;Bursaspor grabbed a 1-1 draw with Eskisehispor K.</li>
<li>In sad news, former first round draft pick Bright Dike will likely miss most of the season with a torn Achilles. &nbsp;The 23 year-old had signed with Portland and hurt himself in a preseason match. &nbsp;Too bad for a guy trying to live up to his draft status.</li>
</ul>

Week in Review: February 8-13, 2011 - World Soccer Talk

Week in Review: February 8-13, 2011

If you’re like me, the holidays are a time of getting out of your workday routines due to relaxation/travel/stress.&nbsp; In fact, at times I miss news stories because I tend not to check news sites or Twitter as much as I normally do.&nbsp; So as I begin my work week routine again, I notice that I have missed some news items over the past week or so that were interesting or important.
So as a service to our loyal readers and fans who may have been more focused on family and friends than on following all the American soccer news out there (and you know who you are), here is a summary of the major goings-ons from the past week and a half that we have not covered here on MLS Talk.&nbsp; And if my holiday celebration prevented me from including some major news, please enlighten or remind me in the comments section:
–&nbsp; The Beckham loan rumors are flying again, and this time he is expected to become a bench option at <a href="http:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/spurs-manager-redknapp-we-want-beckham-loan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tottenham</a>.&nbsp; The rumor sounds fishy, but Harry Redknapp is crazy like a fox, so maybe there is something to this.&nbsp; Expect a post this week on David Beckham and MLS.
–&nbsp; The Generation Adidas class <a href="http:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/five-akron-players-headline-2011-generation-adidas-class" target="_blank" rel="noopener">has been finalized</a>, and nine college underclassmen will be part of the 2011 Superdraft, five from the NCAA champion Akron Zips.&nbsp; Expect many of these players to be taken in the first round and possibly contribute immediately to their new clubs.
–&nbsp; Edson Buddle and Omar Cummings have been eyed by a few English clubs, but no deals have been announced.&nbsp; Both players are wanted by their current teams, so we shall see if anything comes of their overseas trainings.
–&nbsp; Two players who definitely are moving overseas are <a href="http:\/\/www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2010-12-23-findley-going-to-england_N.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Robbie Findley</a> and <a href="http:\/\/soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/857786?cc=5901" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Freddie Ljungberg</a>.&nbsp; Findley will sign with Nottingham Forest, a second-tier English club, once his work permit has been sorted out.&nbsp; Former Chicago and Seattle player Ljungberg, who made his name playing for Arsenal prior to his MLS move, has signed a contract with Celtic.
–&nbsp; In coaching news, Toronto <a href="http:\/\/blogs.thescore.com/footyblog/2011/01/03/breaking-news-aron-winter-takes-charge-at-toronto-fc/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">looks set to hire</a> ex-Netherlands international Aaron Winter as its new head coach and Revolution assistant Paul Mariner to the front office.&nbsp; Or vice versa.&nbsp; While it’s not official until the press conference, this is good news to TFC fans after the <a href="http:\/\/www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/toronto-fc-continues-its-befuddling-offseason-with-de-rosario-controversy/11214" target="_blank" rel="noopener">De Rosario controversy </a>last week.&nbsp; Chivas USA would then become the only team without a head coach, after Juan Carlos Osorio <a href="http:\/\/sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/soccer/news/story?id=5964913" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rejected an offer</a> to take the team’s vacant position.&nbsp; But it looks like RSL assistant <a href="http:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/report-rsl-assistant-fraser-be-new-chivas-usa-coach" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Robin Fraser</a> will be named the new head coach very soon.
–&nbsp; American international Brad Guzan will finally get some starts for a club team, as Aston Villa <a href="http:\/\/news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/hull_city/9331207.stm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">have loaned him</a> to Hull City.
What did I miss?

What You Missed in American Soccer Over the Holidays - World Soccer Talk

What You Missed in American Soccer Over the Holidays

<div style="text-align: center"><a href="http:\/\/view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/sports/toronto-seattle-sounders/image/10035905?term=Qwest+Field+Sounders" target="_blank"><div><figure class="image"></figure></div></a></div>
The cold days of winter have gotten a little sunlight – MLS today unveiled their schedule for “First Kick 2011”, the first home games for every MLS team in the upcoming season.&nbsp; The week will be the first week of the new balanced scheduling and offers some tantalizing match-ups for American soccer fans.
First up again is the Seattle Sounders, who for the third year in a row will kick off the MLS season, this time against the LA Galaxy.&nbsp; The game can be seen at 9:30 PM Eastern on ESPN on March 15.
Saturday, March 19 is when most of the other clubs will begin the season and the schedule has some tantalizing games.&nbsp; Expansion Vancouver will host fellow countrymen Toronto on the first weekend to christen the new MLS club.&nbsp; Colorado will begin its defense of its MLS Cup against the expansion Timbers at 9 PM Eastern that day.&nbsp; And in what may be the marquee match-up of the weekend, San Jose hosts Real Salt Lake in one of two matches featuring two 2010 playoff teams (the other is Seattle flying to New York to face the Red Bulls).
The weekend of March 26 allows many of the first weekend’s visiting teams to return home and play in front of home crowds.&nbsp; The 2010 Eastern Conference top seeds face off at Columbus Crew Stadium at 4 PM.&nbsp; The sexy match-up undoubtedly is Real Salt Lake’s first home match, where they will host the LA Galaxy in an early season battle of possible 2011 MLS Cup contenders.
The only two teams without a home opener in March are Portland (April 14) and Kansas City (June 9).&nbsp; You can see the entire home opening slate <a href="http:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/first-kick-home-openers-revealed-2011" target="_blank">here</a>.
What do you think?&nbsp; Is RSL/LA the best game of the first two weeks?&nbsp; What do you think about your club’s opener?

MLS Unveils First Matches of 2011 Season - World Soccer Talk

MLS Unveils First Matches of 2011 Season

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Leagues: MLS

Week in Review: February 8-13, 2011

Leagues: MLS

What You Missed in American Soccer Over the Holidays

Leagues: MLS

MLS Unveils First Matches of 2011 Season